The Minnesota Lynx host the Toronto Tempo on Tuesday night at Target Center, and the betting market is treating the matchup like a mismatch. Minnesota sits at 22-6 and just welcomed back MVP contender Napheesa Collier. Toronto arrives at 10-16 without its leading scorer. The Lynx are laying more than two scores as double-digit home favorites, and the total sits in the mid-180s. There is a clear side worth backing here. However, the size of the number and the injury picture pull the analysis in a more interesting direction than the line first suggests.
Last Updated: Tuesday, July 28, 2026
Toronto Tempo vs. Minnesota Lynx — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Target Center, Minneapolis, MN |
| When | Tuesday, July 28 – 8:00 PM ET |
| TV | Victory+ (TSN in Canada) |
Toronto Tempo vs. Minnesota Lynx Betting Preview
Minnesota carries the Western Conference’s best record into this one at 22-6, and the Lynx have done most of that damage without their franchise star. Napheesa Collier missed the bulk of the season with an ankle injury, and Collier returned on a minutes restriction in the July 22 win over Seattle. Rookie guard Olivia Miles carried the scoring load in her absence at around 19 points per game, with Kayla McBride, Natasha Howard and Courtney Williams rounding out a deep, balanced group under head coach Cheryl Reeve.
Toronto is a different story. The expansion Tempo sit at 10-16 and enter shorthanded. Leading scorer Brittney Sykes, who averages 20.1 points, is out with a foot injury, and both Sykes and Kiki Rice are sidelined for extended time. That leaves Marina Mabrey, Julie Allemand and Laura Juskaite to shoulder the offense against the league’s stingiest defense. The teams met once already this season, and Minnesota rolled 100-72 on May 21 in the first game in franchise history between the two clubs. Our recent Minnesota Lynx betting breakdown covered this same core in more depth.
Toronto Tempo vs. Minnesota Lynx Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tempo | +14.5 (-115) | +725 | U 184.5 (-110) |
| Lynx | -14.5 (-105) | -1300 | O 184.5 (-110) |
Odds accurate as of Tuesday, July 28, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest WNBA Odds – Futures – Props
Toronto Tempo vs. Minnesota Lynx — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Tempo | 22% | 78% | Lynx |
See the latest WNBA Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Tempo vs. Lynx Prediction — Can the Shorthanded Tempo Keep It Close?
The case for Minnesota is easy to make. The Lynx own the league’s top defensive numbers, they are rolling at home, and they just beat this same Toronto team by 28 back in May when the Tempo were healthier. Now Toronto is missing its leading scorer and a key guard, so the offense that struggled in the first meeting has even less firepower. Getting Collier back only widens the talent gap.
Still, 14.5 points is a large number in a league where margins swing quickly. The public agrees with the favorite, pounding Minnesota at 78 percent of spread tickets, and that kind of lopsided action often inflates an already steep line. Collier is on a minutes restriction, which means Reeve has every reason to manage her stars and empty the bench if the game gets out of hand. That dynamic invites garbage-time points and a backdoor cover for the underdog.
Toronto has enough veteran scoring in Mabrey and Allemand to avoid a total collapse, even without Sykes. The risk is real that Minnesota simply overwhelms a depleted roster. However, laying more than two scores with a favorite that may coast late is a tough price to pay. The points are the more comfortable side.
The Pick: Toronto Tempo +14.5 (-115)
Tempo vs. Lynx Prediction — Does a Depleted Toronto Offense Cap the Scoring?
The total opened at 184.0 and has ticked up to 184.5, a small nudge toward the over. Minnesota’s offense supports that move, as the Lynx rank near the top of the league in scoring and can pile up points against a soft defense. If Collier and Miles get going early, Minnesota alone can carry a big chunk of this number.
The other side is more compelling. Toronto’s attack has thinned out with Sykes and Rice unavailable, and fewer scoring options means fewer possessions that end in points. The first meeting between these teams landed at 172 total points, well under a similar number. With the Tempo shorthanded again and Minnesota capable of managing minutes with a lead, the under is the play.
The Pick: Under 184.5 (-110)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
Minnesota’s moneyline sits at -1300, so there is no value in laying that price on a game that could still tighten late. The cleaner angles are the two already on the board. Toronto’s injury report is the driving force here, and it cuts in two directions. It justifies a huge favorite, but it also thins the scoring on both ends of the floor once Minnesota builds a lead. Our earlier Toronto Tempo betting breakdown tracked this same shorthanded group.
To recap the card for Tuesday night: take Toronto Tempo +14.5 (-115) on the spread and the Under 184.5 (-110) on the total. Both lean on the same read — a depleted Toronto roster and a favorite with reason to manage its minutes.
WNBA Tempo vs. Lynx FAQ: Tuesday July 28, 2026
What time does the Tempo vs. Lynx game start?
Tip-off is set for 8:00 PM ET on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at Target Center in Minneapolis. Minnesota hosts after a home win over Seattle earlier in the week, while Toronto arrives on the road for the second meeting of the season series between the two clubs.
What channel is the Tempo vs. Lynx game on?
The game airs on Victory+ in the United States, with TSN carrying the broadcast in Canada. Both feeds cover the full matchup from Target Center. Viewers outside the local Minnesota market can stream the contest through Victory+ for the entire game.
Who won the last meeting between the Tempo and Lynx?
Minnesota won the only prior meeting 100-72 on May 21, 2026, the first game in the two franchises’ shared history. The Lynx led a balanced effort and pulled away early, holding the expansion Tempo to 72 points. Tuesday marks the second game of the season series.
Is Brittney Sykes playing tonight?
No. Toronto guard Brittney Sykes remains out with a foot injury and has been ruled out for extended time. Sykes leads the Tempo at 20.1 points per game, so her absence removes the team’s top scoring option against the WNBA’s stingiest defense on the road.
Where do the Tempo and Lynx stand in the WNBA standings?
Minnesota owns the Western Conference’s best record at 22-6 and ranks among the WNBA’s top teams. Toronto sits well back at 10-16, near the bottom of the standings in its first season as an expansion franchise. The wide gap frames Tuesday’s lopsided betting line.