May the Minnesota Lynx actually win all of it? After being ranked ninth in ESPN’S preseason rankings after a beneath .500 season final yr, they sit close to the highest of the WNBA standings, winners of 11 of their final 12 video games.
Minnesota (29-7) has had one of many league’s prime defenses all yr, been the W’s most constant three-point taking pictures workforce, and have amassed a profitable document towards all however one playoff workforce (the Connecticut Solar).
A giant a part of the Lynx’s success has been three-point taking pictures — the workforce’s 38.7% mark from past the arc is the most effective within the league, and 4 gamers shoot above 40%. They dish out extra assists (23.3) per sport than any workforce within the W, and have constantly had one of many league’s greatest defenses.
Nonetheless, regardless of a season of excellence, the Lynx have managed to fly beneath the radar. They’ve gotten their flowers sometimes, however usually stay ignored within the nationwide discourse across the WNBA this season, which has centered round Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, and final yr’s Finals groups, the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces.
And for a lot of the yr, that’s been nice, although head coach Cheryl Reeve did be sure that to demand her squad acquired some credit score after they toppled the Liberty to safe the midseason Commissioner’s Cup again in June.
“You bought to speak about us now, you’ve received no selection,” Reeve mentioned. “We don’t actually care what you suppose, aside from proper now, after we get to say to you, ‘You’ve received to speak about us.’”
“We simply beat a superteam. You know the way laborious that’s to do? Since you guys love your superteams. That’s all you wish to discuss. However we simply beat a superteam. Let’s discuss it.”
So, let’s discuss it.
There are a variety of causes the Lynx have been profitable this season, and Reeve, who’s a frontrunner for Coach of the Yr, deserves a variety of the credit score for a way she’s allowed so many items to mesh. Nonetheless, there’s no higher place to start out than with their franchise participant, Napheesa Collier.
How Napheesa Collier turned the pinnacle of the snake
At age 27, Collier has established herself as bonafide famous person, averaging 20.4 factors on 48.6% taking pictures, 9.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.3 blocks. She’s been one of the efficient offensive gamers within the league, however on the similar time, is a number one candidate for Defensive Participant of the Yr. Her on-court affect has been plain; Collier has had the league’s third-highest plus-minus at +8.7.
Furthermore, whereas Lynx have been phenomenal this season, their 27-9 document would most likely be even higher if Collier didn’t miss time with a foot damage in July. The Lynx misplaced three of 5 video games after she went down towards the Solar on July 4th. Had she averted that damage, they very effectively could be within the working for greatest document within the WNBA (the Liberty presently sit at 32-6).
“I believe simply the previous couple years, the mentality that I convey to the sport is only a lot completely different,” Collier instructed ESPN’s Malika Andrews earlier this week. “Since Syl [Syliva Fowles] retired, particularly realizing that the time falls to my shoulders much more, and simply taking that accountability actually critically, going out on daily basis and realizing that I must carry out effectively for our workforce to do effectively.”
Kayla McBride, a four-time All-Star, has additionally supplied vital scoring as one of many league’s prime high-volume three-point shooters this season. McBride is scoring 15.6 factors per sport whereas taking pictures 40.6% from past the arc, and has the league’s sixth-best plus-minus ranking at +7.1.
The important thing to the Lynx’s success has been their depth
Collier and McBride are the All-Stars, however they’ve been removed from the only cause for the Lynx’s effectiveness.
“Everyone had their moments, however collectively, I simply suppose we’ve this toughness about us,” McBride mentioned after a win towards the Dream earlier this week.
Courtney Williams and Alanna Smith each signed two-year offers with the Lynx this winter after being unrestricted free brokers recent off of a shedding season with the Chicago Sky, and instantly showcased their affect.
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Photograph by Ben Brewer/Getty Photos
Williams, the veteran guard, has averaged 11.2 factors on 44.1% taking pictures alongside 5.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds. She was enormous within the Lynx’s win over the Aces final month, recording 20 factors and 10 assists and prompting Kelsey Plum, who was guarding her, to confess: “She cooked me.”
Smith has supplied nice protection and a scoring punch for Minnesota, averaging 10.4 factors on 48% taking pictures, together with 42.9% from three.
Smith has additionally been an infinite asset defensively, a lot in order that Collier has instructed her she was the lacking piece on that finish.
“I’m actually fortunate in that Phee and I play rather well off of one another defensively,” Smith mentioned. “That was form of one thing that occurred from the very begin with us. It was similar to, we learn one another rather well and labored collectively rather well on the defensive finish, with out having to do a lot.”
The beginning lineup is rounded out by Bridget Carleton, who’s been the workforce’s prime three-point shooter, hitting 43.2% of her makes an attempt for 9.5 factors per night time.
The Lynx have been already within the midst of an amazing season, however the midseason addition of Myisha Hines-Allen has made them much more formidable; Hines-Allen has averaged 16.9 minutes per sport off the bench since she was traded from Washington to Minnesota, posting 6.7 factors and 4.1 rebounds an evening. She’s executed somewhat little bit of all the pieces for the Lynx since her arrival, and has earned reward from the teaching workers.
“That’s why we made the commerce,” Reeve mentioned, per the Star Tribune. “As a result of she suits into what we did. Who she is as an individual. She checks all of the packing containers with us.”
Previewing a pathway towards a WNBA championship
Because it presently stands, the Lynx would face the Mercury within the first spherical of the playoffs. Basketball is clearly an unpredictable sport, however they’re 3-1 towards the Mercury this season. Plus, the Mercury haven’t appeared nice of late — they’ve dropped 5 of their final six video games and don’t appear ripe for an upset.
If the Lynx have been to advance out of the primary spherical, they’d face the winner of Solar-Fever within the Semi-Finals. Minnesota has already beat Indiana twice for the reason that Olympic break, so that they’d should really feel good getting into that matchup. Connecticut, alternatively, has had Minnesota’s quantity in a way, and has taken each matchups thus far this season. However, one loss got here in time beyond regulation, and the opposite with out Collier. The 2 groups will face off once more on Tuesday.
Within the Finals, the Lynx can be possible play the winners of a Liberty-Aces collection (although both workforce could possibly be upset within the first spherical). The Lynx have defeated the Aces by double-digits the final thrice the groups confronted off, and have a 2-1 lead over the Liberty within the three video games they’ve performed this season. Whereas each the Liberty and Aces would have extra buzz getting into the Finals, the Lynx wouldn’t be a nasty choose contemplating how effectively they’ve fared towards the league’s different contending groups this season.
It’s been years since Minnesota’s glory days, during which they gained 4 championships from 2011 to 2017 beneath the management of Maya Moore.
Collier thinks they’ll get again there subsequent month — and the Lynx’s season thus far validates that perception.
“Our workforce is so particular. I believe we actually have an opportunity this yr,” Collier mentioned. “The best way we play protection, what number of threats we’ve on offense, simply the best way that we’re actually gelling this yr. It seems like an ideal storm for us.”
