Recreation 5 between the Minnesota Lynx and the Connecticut Solar was extremely anticipated, however the precise recreation was anticlimactic.
The Lynx left little doubt they had been the higher group on Tuesday, beating the Solar 88-77. The scoreboard doesn’t mirror simply how dominant Minnesota was; they led by as many as 24 factors and had been up double digits for almost all of the competition.
Napheesa Collier rose to the problem of a winner-take-all recreation and made it clear that the hole between her and the second-best participant on the ground was large. She ended the night time with 27 factors, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks. Courtney Williams additionally got here up large for the Lynx, scoring 24 factors. Her capability to outplay the Solar guards was an enormous issue within the win.
On the Solar aspect, the starters had been good, however not nice. DiJonai Carrington was a vivid spot and scored 17 factors, whereas Marina Mabrey scored eight off the bench. It simply wasn’t sufficient in a must-win recreation on the street.
Minnesota’s hot-shooting first half
The opening minutes of Recreation 5 went in Connecticut’s favor, beginning out on a 9-2 run. After that, although, it was all Minnesota. The Lynx scored 10 unanswered factors till Mabrey ended the drought for the Solar.
For each motion, nevertheless, there’s an equal or reverse response, and the Lynx bought scorching from deep, with Kayla McBride hitting back-to-back triples. Following a number of extra Williams baskets (as a part of an ideal 4-for-4 begin from the Lynx guard) and Collier finishes close to the rim, the Lynx ended the opening body on high 31-18.
After the sport, Solar head coach Stephanie White talked about how powerful that begin was for her group, noting:
They got here out and knocked us within the mouth right this moment. And I’m pleased with our group for persevering with to combat, persevering with to battle, to attempt to place ourselves to come back again on this bal recreation, but it surely’s rather a lot to beat, a deficit like that within the first quarter.
The Lynx piled on the remainder of the half. This collection was tight all through all 4 video games, however when Minnesota prolonged the result in 17 factors after a Natisha Hiedeman 3-pointer, it was the largest benefit both group had for the collection. The lead grew as excessive as 21 factors, and we entered the halftime break with Minnesota up 53-34.
The Lynx didn’t let up
In an enormous gap, the Solar wanted a quick begin within the third quarter to make it a recreation once more. Carrington did her half, scoring five-consecutive factors, a part of a Solar 7-0 run to start out the second half. Alanna Smith then ended the scoring drought for the Lynx with a 3-pointer, and Minnesota was again in enterprise.
The Lynx scored 12-straight factors, extending their result in 24, the most important benefit of the sport. This primarily ended all hope the Solar had of getting again into this recreation. Within the fourth, there have been extra Williams buckets and Collier finishes close to the rim, and shortly, it was only a matter of wanting on the clock to see how a lot time was left on the Solar’s season.
It was a whole recreation from the Lynx, and so they celebrated on their house flooring as they returned to the WNBA Finals for the primary time since 2017.
In her post-game availability, Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve beamed with delight when discussing her group’s efficiency on Tuesday, saying:
I simply overwhelmingly felt proud, proud for the way we performed. We performed Lynx basketball tonight, and it was good to get again to that. I d–n close to assured you that we’d play the protection that we performed. We’re now 180-6 since 2011 once we maintain our opponents beneath 40 p.c. To do this to this group was particular, and it was essential for us to shut them out.
The Minnesota Lynx will now try for 5 in opposition to the New York Liberty, who’re vying for his or her first WNBA title. The WNBA Finals will start on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
