First, second collide when Lynx try to stay unbeaten against Valkyries

The Minnesota Lynx can take a big step toward securing top seeding in the WNBA playoffs when they visit the second-place Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday night in San Francisco.

The Lynx (29-7) will take the court riding a four-game winning streak, holding a three-game lead over the Valkyries (25-9) with a chance to clinch the season series. After Tuesday, Minnesota will have only seven games remaining in the regular season.

The Lynx not only have won both previous matchups with Golden State this season, but they've never lost to the second-year club in eight head-to-heads that include two in a first-round playoff sweep last season.

The ninth meeting might be the toughest. Minnesota will be coming off an emotional 92-87 win at Las Vegas on Saturday night and will be playing its third straight on the road. Meanwhile, the Valkyries have won six straight.

Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve noted she enjoys the fact a tough stretch in the schedule will help her team get "battle-tested" in preparation for postseason play. Veteran guard Courtney Williams agrees.

"We're all kind of figuring out (playoff) positions right now," Williams said on the team's current trip, "so whenever you can go get some tough games in before playoffs, it'll only help you."

The Valkyries became the third team to clinch a playoff spot when they handled the Dallas Wings 78-70 at home on Monday night.

All-Star Gabby Williams wondered aloud afterward what the celebration was about when the ultimate goal has not been achieved.

"How many times do I gotta tell you we're trying to win (a championship)?" she told the media after the game. "I don't know how many times I gotta say I came here to win."

The Lynx and Valkyries will also meet Monday in Minnesota, giving Golden State two opportunities not only to cut games from its deficit, but draw even in the season series.

The last time the clubs saw each other was exactly two months ago, when the Golden State defense hounded Minnesota star rookie Olivia Miles into one of her worst outings of the season. She missed all four of her 3-point attempts and nine of her 10 shots overall on a seven-point night.

The Lynx nonetheless were able to pull out an 81-75 win on Golden State's home court. The teams' earlier meeting had been even closer, with Minnesota escaping with an 87-84 home win.

--Field Level Media