WNBA: Minnesota Lynx open 2024 playoffs in opposition to Phoenix Mercury

The No. 2-seed Minnesota Lynx’s quest for a fifth WNBA championship begins this Sunday, Sept. 22, once they’ll meet the No. 7-seed Phoenix Mercury within the first spherical of the 2024 WNBA playoffs. The perfect-of-three collection tips-off with two video games in Minnesota and can then shift to Phoenix for a 3rd recreation, if essential.

The 2024 common season was inarguably a profitable one for Minnesota. The Lynx went 30-10 and completed second total within the WNBA standings, successful 75 % of their video games for the primary time because the glory days of the franchise and considerably exceeding most preseason expectations. Phoenix, in the meantime, struggled with consistency for a lot of 2024, hovering round .500 for many of the season and in the end ending with a 19-21 document. This was nonetheless loads ok to clinch the Mercury a playoff spot, although, as they completed 4 video games forward of the No. 8-seed Atlanta Dream and had roughly been working as in the event that they have been a championship contender.

The final time the Lynx confronted the Mercury within the playoffs was through the “bubble” season in 2020, and evidently so much has modified since then. Right here’s how the 2 groups stack up and what we’ll be looking ahead to once they take the courtroom.

How the Lynx and Mercury match up

To say the Lynx are an unselfish group can be promoting them brief. Ball motion performed an enormous half in Minnesota’s regular-season success, and the Lynx truly set a WNBA document for regular-season help charge, aiding on 76.43 % of their made baskets (Throughout the Timeline). What the Lynx lack in typical downhill scoring and drive-and-kick playmaking, they greater than make up for in collective passing and a steadfast adherence to go coach Cheryl Reeve’s offensive system, one which emphasizes discovering mismatches and environment friendly spot-up alternatives.

That’s to not say that Minnesota is wanting standout expertise. Ahead Napheesa Collier has been one of many WNBA’s most efficient gamers for years now, and he or she raised her recreation one more stage in 2024, averaging 20.4 factors, 9.7 rebounds, and three.4 assists per recreation to associate with 1.9 steals and 1.4 blocks. Collier’s effectivity with the basketball and talent to defend a number of positions makes her one of many league’s few gamers who performs at a star stage on each ends of the courtroom, and when she’s paired with Alanna Smith, the duo varieties maybe the very best defensive playmaking frontcourt within the WNBA.

Photograph by Barry Gossage/NBAE through Getty Photographs

They’ll have their arms full with Phoenix heart Brittney Griner, although. At 6-foot-9, Griner can get her shot off in opposition to any defender, and her ever-evolving offensive recreation offers the Mercury a luxurious no different WNBA group has: a real low-post offensive hub that Phoenix can play via for the whole thing of the time she’s on the ground, forcing opponents to decide on between taking part in straight-up or sending assist.

In an effort to diversify their offensive method, the Mercury traded for über-athletic wing Kahleah Copper and signed veteran level guard Natasha Cloud this previous offseason. Additionally they employed Nate Tibbetts as their head coach; the previous Orlando Magic and Portland Path Blazers assistant promised to convey NBA offensive ideas to Phoenix’s roster. Whereas the Mercury nonetheless play via Griner at any time when potential—46.1 % of her offensive possessions come through post-ups, by far the best frequency of any WNBA participant (Synergy Sports activities)—Cloud and Copper give Phoenix threats off the dribble that the group merely didn’t have earlier than.

Photograph by Christian Petersen/Getty Photographs

Even so, the Mercury didn’t fare nicely in opposition to the Lynx within the common season. Minnesota gained three of 4 video games in opposition to Phoenix, outscoring the Mercury by 12.3 factors per recreation whereas holding Phoenix to a mean of 72 factors.

Granted, the Lynx completed the common season with the second-best defensive score within the WNBA (94.8 factors allowed per 100 possessions), however it factors to the significance of Phoenix’s high gamers all clicking on the similar time. The Mercury shot 27.1 % on 3-pointers of their three regular-season losses to Minnesota, so that they’ll clearly must make extra photographs to have an opportunity; that features Diana Taurasi, who’s seemingly ageless athletically however has had an up-and-down season taking pictures the basketball. The leap photographs of Cloud and Sophie Cunningham (37.8 % on 4.5 3-point makes an attempt per recreation) will even be components.

Photograph by Barry Gossage/NBAE through Getty Photographs

For Minnesota, don’t anticipate any huge schematic modifications. The guard play of Courtney Williams (11.1 factors and 5.5 assists per recreation) and Kayla McBride (15 factors per recreation; 40.7 % on 6.6 3-point makes an attempt) has been regular all season, whereas gamers like Bridget Carleton (44.4 % on 3-pointers) and Cecilia Zandalasini (44.3 %) be sure that the Lynx will be capable of area the ground for a full 40 minutes and provides Collier room to function. Whereas Griner’s presence will certainly power the Lynx to combine up their defensive coverages—one thing that Reeve is well-experienced with, having coached in opposition to the star heart since her rookie season in 2013—she gained’t be capable of beat Minnesota alone. Phoenix will want a well-balanced and environment friendly offensive efficiency with a purpose to cling in opposition to the favored Lynx.

No. 2 seed Minnesota Lynx (30-10) vs. No. 7 seed Phoenix Mercury (19-21)

Recreation 1: Phoenix Mercury at Minnesota Lynx

When: Sunday, Sept. 22 at 5 p.m. ET

The place: Goal Heart in Minneapolis, MN

How one can watch: ESPN

Recreation 2: Phoenix Mercury at Minnesota Lynx

When: Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 9:30 p.m. ET

The place: Goal Heart in Minneapolis, MN

How one can watch: ESPN

Recreation 3 (if essential): Minnesota Lynx at Phoenix Mercury

When: Friday, Sept. 27 (time TBD)

The place: Footprint Heart in Phoenix, AZ

How one can watch: ESPN2