WNBA: Can Solar prolong semifinal sequence in opposition to Lynx to Sport 5?

On Friday evening, the No. 2-seed Minnesota Lynx established some separation from the No. 3-seed Connecticut Solar, successful Sport 3 of their semifinal sequence, 90-81.

Throughout the three regular-season video games between the 2 groups, the Solar had outscored the Lynx by a mere 4 factors. By the primary two playoff video games, the Lynx had only a four-point edge. Does Friday evening’s moderately commanding Minnesota win recommend that the Lynx have cracked Connecticut? Or, will the Solar re-establish the aggressive equilibrium between the 2 squads?

Sport 4 ideas off on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 5 p.m. ET at Mohegan Solar Enviornment (ESPN2).

Minnesota is good

Picture by Chris Marion/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures

For the reason that Solar rumbled into Goal Heart final Sunday and stole Sport 1 from the Lynx, Minnesota has been the extra aggressive staff, not simply matching, however exceeding, Connecticut’s signature depth. Fairly presumably, head coach Cheryl Reeve’s reported confrontation with Solar gamers after Sport 1 impressed her staff to take issues to a different degree.

Or, possibly Minnesota is simply the higher, extra balanced staff? After a pair of quiet scoring outings within the first two video games, Napheesa Collier placed on an MV-Phee efficiency in Sport 3, with the DPOY displaying her enviably well-rounded recreation. Courtney Williams, who spent two earlier stints with the Solar, has gotten her midrange recreation going, with back-to-back environment friendly scoring video games. Alanna Smith has proven off the talents that earned her a primary All-Defensive honor, main the playoffs with 12 complete blocks. Myisha Hines-Allen has introduced her model of bully ball from off the bench. And Kayla McBride and Bridget Carleton, whereas each enjoying strong ball, have but to unleash a bonkers 3-point capturing present.

Add up how all these gamers complement one another in Reeve’s programs, forming an environment friendly offensive machine that thrives on ball motion and a linked protection able to matching Connecticut’s physicality, and it turns into straightforward to ascertain Minnesota once more proving themselves superior on Sunday, punching the franchise’s first ticket to the WNBA Finals since 2017.

Can Connecticut come again?

Picture by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Pictures

In fact, it’s unwise to suppose that Connecticut will go down with out a knockdown, drag-out struggle. This group, led by the Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner and Brionna Jones core, desperately seeks its first title. And even when the Solar’s depth shouldn’t be equal to that of the Lynx, Connecticut sports activities a powerful supporting solid, highlighted by the strapping protection of Most Improved Participant DiJonai Carrington and the ignitable offense of Marina Mabrey.

Each gamers should come to play on Sunday. Together with disruptive protection, Carrington has to contribute environment friendly offense. A sizzling 3-point capturing afternoon, specifically, can be fascinating, as Carrington is capturing simply 22.2 % from deep within the playoffs. After an off evening in Sport 3, Mabrey should rediscover her scoring sizzle, the place her powerful shotmaking is punctuated by well timed buckets that stunt any Minnesota momentum.

Connecticut may additionally use one thing additional from Veronica Burton or Ty Harris. Neither could be afraid to be aggressive on the offensive finish. Whereas Thomas and Bonner could be counted on to captain an all-out defensive effort, the Solar can nonetheless undergo by means of scoring droughts. That’s the place just a few fearless baskets from Burton and Harris may make an enormous distinction.

After Sport 3, head coach Stephanie White recommended the Solar “bought outplayed, outexecuted and outcoached.” It is not going to be shocking if the Solar flip the tables in Sport 4, leaving Reeve able to cost into her personal staff’s locker room because the sequence heads again to Minneapolis for a Sport 5.

Sport data

No. 2-seed Minnesota Lynx (2-1) vs. No. 3-seed Connecticut Solar (1-2)

When: Sunday, Oct. 6 at 5 p.m. ET

The place: Mohegan Solar Enviornment in Uncasville, CT

The right way to watch: ESPN2

Lynx harm report: none

Solar harm report: Tiffany Mitchell (out; sickness)