The Connecticut Solar will meet the Minnesota Lynx within the 2024 WNBA Semifinals, starting this Sunday, Sept. 29 at 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). The very best-of-five sequence options the No. 3-seed Solar (28-12 in the course of the 2024 common season) and the No. 2-seed Lynx (30-10), each of whom swept their respective opponents within the first spherical of the playoffs.
The Solar beforehand confronted the Lynx within the first spherical of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs, a sequence that Connecticut gained two video games to 1. The Solar have been largely anticipated to win that sequence on the time, and it’s not stunning to see them again within the semifinals in 2024; the Lynx, in the meantime, have improved considerably from their 19-win marketing campaign in 2023, and it units up an intriguing rematch on this yr’s postseason.
Roster additions have improved each the Solar and the Lynx
On Connecticut’s finish, not a lot has modified identity-wise. The Solar stay one of many WNBA’s most bodily and hard-working groups, a veteran squad constructed across the abilities of forwards Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner. The pair has now led the Solar to five-consecutive semifinal appearances, spearheading a successful tradition that Connecticut trustworthy hope will quickly embrace the franchise’s first-ever WNBA championship.
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Minnesota, however, is taking part in its finest basketball because the days of Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles. The Lynx dynasty of the mid-2010s is lengthy gone, however they’ve a brand new star in Napheesa Collier—a flexible, environment friendly ahead who has ascended from star rookie and defensive playmaker to bona fide MVP candidate.
The Lynx improved significantly final offseason, including starting-caliber gamers equivalent to Courtney Williams and Alanna Smith in free company, and crafted an offensive philosophy predicated on ball motion and 3-point taking pictures. Minnesota set a WNBA file for help fee within the 2024 season, helping on 76.43 p.c of its made baskets (Throughout the Timeline), and likewise led the league in 3-point taking pictures share at 38 p.c.
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Will the Lynx’s new-look offense be sufficient to get them over the hump towards Connecticut? The Solar, too, improved their scoring with a midseason commerce for guard Marina Mabrey, whose outdoors taking pictures enhances the crew’s standard excellence within the paint from Thomas and heart Brionna Jones. Previous Solar groups could have lacked a secondary perimeter scoring menace, however in Mabrey, Connecticut now has a guard who can go toe-to-toe with Minnesota’s Kayla McBride.
Which crew will lock in additional on protection?
Whereas Connecticut and Minnesota have vastly totally different approaches on offense—the Solar’s strengths lie on the glass and on the free throw line, whereas the Lynx excel on the perimeter—they’re each terrific on the defensive aspect of the ball. The Solar and Lynx ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in defensive ranking in the course of the common season, with not even some extent per 100 possessions separating them, and each groups ranked within the high 4 in opponent turnover share.
So, regardless of the quantity of offensive expertise that will probably be on show within the sequence, don’t be stunned if the video games are comparatively low-scoring. Solely one of many three regular-season conferences between the Solar and Lynx exceeded 160 factors, and so they wanted additional time to get there.
Regardless, the outcomes of these regular-season video games recommend the semifinals will probably be a tightly-contested sequence. Although Connecticut beat Minnesota two video games to 1 within the common season, it wasn’t by a lot: These three video games have been determined by a complete of 4 factors, with each remaining undecided till the ultimate minutes. Anticipate a number of extra highly-competitive video games because the Solar and Lynx battle for a spot within the WNBA Finals.
No. 2-seed Minnesota Lynx (30-10) vs. No. 3-seed Connecticut Solar (28-12)
Sport 1: Connecticut Solar at Minnesota Lynx
When: Sunday, Sept. 29 at 8:30 p.m. ET
The place: Goal Heart in Minneapolis, MN
watch: ESPN
Sport 2: Connecticut Solar at Minnesota Lynx
When: Tuesday, Oct. 1 (time TBD)
The place: Goal Heart in Minneapolis, MN
watch: TBD
Sport 3: Minnesota Lynx at Connecticut Solar
When: Friday, Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m. ET
The place: Mohegan Solar Area in Uncasville, CT
watch: ESPN2
Sport 4 (if obligatory): Minnesota Lynx at Connecticut Solar
When: Sunday, Oct 6. (time TBD)
The place: Mohegan Solar Area in Uncasville, CT
watch: TBD
Sport 5 (if obligatory): Connecticut Solar at Minnesota Lynx
When: Tuesday, Oct. 8 (time TBD)
The place: Goal Heart in Minneapolis, MN
watch: ESPN2
