The New York Liberty (4-1) host the Minnesota Lynx (2-1) this Saturday, Could 25 as a part of a five-game slate of WNBA video games. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, and the sport can be broadcast nationally on CBS.
The Liberty are coming off their first lack of the 2024 season, a 90-81 defeat by the hands of the Chicago Sky. For the primary time this season, the Liberty regarded flat; although they got here again from a 14-point deficit and briefly took the lead within the fourth quarter, Chicago outplayed the reigning WNBA runners-up down the stretch, ending the sport with benefits in paint scoring (46-36), rebounding (38-35) and turnovers (9-14).
Minnesota, too, just lately fell for the primary time, shedding in additional time to the Connecticut Solar. Regardless of one other huge recreation from Napheesa Collier, the Lynx have been unable to hold onto a number of late leads and in the end dropped a tricky loss on the street to the identical crew that bounced them from final 12 months’s playoffs.
Each the Liberty and Lynx making an attempt to get again on monitor provides an fascinating angle to Saturday’s recreation, as does the return of Dorka Juhász, a 2023 All-Rookie honoree, for Minnesota. Juhász had been competing in Italy till earlier this week; she’ll give the Lynx frontcourt a serious enhance, particularly in matching up in opposition to Liberty stars Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones.
The Lynx can be lacking their different prized second-year participant, nonetheless. The crew introduced that Diamond Miller, who was drafted at No. 2 general within the 2023 WNBA Draft, can be out indefinitely after struggling a knee damage in Minnesota’s loss to Connecticut. It’s the identical knee Miller had surgical procedure on final winter; the Lynx can be seeking to perimeter gamers Bridget Carleton and Cecilia Zandalasini to exchange Miller’s manufacturing on the wing.
New York, in the meantime, has a clear invoice of well being, however will nonetheless want extra from a number of of its greatest gamers than it acquired in opposition to Chicago. Jones, specifically, was restricted by foul hassle, totaling simply eight factors and 4 rebounds, whereas the Liberty’s backcourt of Sabrina Ionescu and Courtney Vandersloot was soundly outplayed by the Sky’s Marina Mabrey (game-high 21 factors and 7 assists).
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It’s nonetheless early within the season, however this isn’t a recreation both New York or Minnesota goes to look previous. The Liberty are generally thought to be one of many high groups within the WNBA, and the best way the Lynx have been taking part in suggests they’ll be in competition for a high playoff seed, too. Saturday’s matchup is the primary between two groups that count on to be within the thick of issues when the postseason rolls round, so the nationwide viewers ought to see a tightly-contested recreation.
Can the Sky maintain their momentum in opposition to the undefeated Solar?
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The younger Sky appear to be bettering quickly, with early-season wins over the Liberty and Dallas Wings below their belts, they usually’ll now play at residence for the primary time this season as they tackle the Solar. Connecticut presents fairly a problem for Chicago, having gone 3-1 in opposition to the Sky final season and outscoring them by 9.6 factors per 100 possessions, and the Solar are the one remaining crew within the WNBA with an undefeated document in 2024, so it’s protected to say that the Sky could have their work minimize out for them.
Chicago has been working a shorter rotation than head coach Teresa Weatherspoon might like, with rookie middle Kamilla Cardoso (shoulder) and veteran ahead Isabelle Harrison (knee) but to swimsuit up this season and guard Diamond DeShields (foot) out and in of the lineup. The Sky have been capable of handle within the frontcourt; Angel Reese and Elizabeth Williams presently rank first and second within the WNBA in offensive rebounds per recreation at 5.0 and 4.7, respectively, whereas Williams is including 2.7 steals and a pair of.0 blocks. They’ll have so much on their plate with Solar forwards Alyssa Thomas and Brionna Jones, nonetheless, who make up maybe essentially the most bodily beginning frontcourt within the WNBA. Whichever crew controls the paint and the boards ought to be in good condition for this one.
Sport data
New York Liberty (4-1) vs. Minnesota Lynx (2-1)
When: Saturday, Could 25 at 1 p.m. ET
The place: Goal Middle in Minneapolis, MN
The best way to watch: CBS
Liberty damage report: None
Lynx damage report: Diamond Miller (out; knee)
Connecticut Solar (4-0) vs. Chicago Sky (2-1)
When: Saturday, Could 25 at 8 p.m. ET
The place: Wintrust Area in Chicago, IL
The best way to watch: CBS Sports activities Community, Marquee Sports activities Community, NBC Sports activities Boston
Solar damage report: None
Sky damage report: Diamond DeShields (questionable; foot), Isabelle Harrison (questionable; knee), Kamilla Cardoso (out; shoulder)
Indiana Fever (0-5) vs. Las Vegas Aces (2-1)
When: Saturday, Could 25 at 9 p.m. ET
The place: Michelob ULTRA Area in Las Vegas, NV
The best way to watch: NBA TV, WNBA League Cross, Silver State Sports activities & Leisure Community, WTHR Channel 13
Fever damage report: Damiris Dantas (out; knee)
Aces damage report: Kierstan Bell (out; leg)
Washington Mystics (0-5) vs. Seattle Storm (2-3)
When: Saturday, Could 25 at 9 p.m. ET
The place: Local weather Pledge Area in Seattle, WA
The best way to watch: WNBA League Cross, FOX 13+, Amazon Prime Video (Seattle), MNMT
Mystics damage report: Brittney Sykes (out; ankle), Shakira Austin (out; private)
Storm damage report: None
Dallas Wings (1-2) vs. Phoenix Mercury (3-1)
When: Saturday, Could 25 at 10 p.m. ET
The place: Footprint Middle in Phoenix, AZ
The best way to watch: WNBA League Cross, Arizona’s Household 3TV, Bally Sports activities SW
Wings damage report: Satou Sabally (out; shoulder), Natasha Howard (out; foot)
Mercury damage report: Sug Sutton (questionable; elbow), Brittney Griner (out; foot)
