The Minnesota Lynx entered the regular season finale with the WNBA’s best record wrapped up, meaning the team is the top seed for the postseason and is guaranteed homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs.
With that in mind, Thursday’s contest still held some importance for Minnesota, which could essentially decide who it would play in the best-of-three first round to open playoff action.
As we often see, seeding came down to the final day of the regular season for the eight teams who have spots
reserved for the playoffs. For the Lynx, it was simple scenario — win and they face Golden State, or lose and they face Seattle.
With Golden State entering Target Center for one final game in the 44-game regular season, Minnesota took down the Valkyries 72-53 to finish the regular season 34-10, tying the 2023 Las Vegas Aces for the best single-season win total in WNBA history.
As a result, the Lynx will now shift their focus to the postseason and playing the same Valkyries team for the best-of-three first round beginning Sunday.
Lockdown Defense, Phee-ling it Offensively
The Lynx did what the Lynx have done well all season: locked down their opponent with suffocating defense. The top defensive team in the league was impressive from defensively from the opening tip, locking down the Valkyries and not allowing them to do much offensively.
Minnesota limited Golden State to 28.8% from the field and 11.1% from three in the game, putting together a strong wire-to-wire performance on that end of the floor.
On the other end, none other than Napheesa Collier led the way for the Lynx offensively most of the game, with Natisha Hiedeman adding a huge lift off the bench in the second half. Collier concluded with 19 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals over 28 minutes, while Hiedeman notched a team-high 21 points in just 25 minutes off the bench. Jessica Shepard also stepped up off the bench, recording yet another double-double with 11 points, 14 rebounds and three assists.
As a team, the Lynx didn’t reach the free throw line that much, but they made up for it with nine threes and a 43.3% shooting mark from the field to step on the gas and pull away late.
Record Night for Lynx
With the win, Minnesota tied or set a few all-time records, a few individual records and one team record.
As a team, the Lynx secured win 34, tying the 2023 Las Vegas Aces for the most wins in a regular season. That season, Las Vegas went on to win the WNBA title.
Individually, Collier concluded the season joining the exclusive 50/90/40 club, shooting at least 50% from the field, 90% from the free throw line and 40% from three. Collier is just the second player in WNBA history to do so, joining Elena Delle Donne who did so in 2019.
Along with that, Cheryl Reeve also tied an all-time record, entering the regular season finale one win shy of tying the all-time record (regular season and playoffs combined) for most wins by a coach. With the win, Reeve moves into a tie with Mike Thibault with 413 victories, a mark that Reeve will only continue to add to.
Up Next
The top-seeded Lynx will open up the playoffs on Sunday at Target Center, battling the Valkyries in a battle between the top seed and the eighth seed. The first to two wins in the series will advance to the best-of-five semifinals round as they continue the pursuit of a spot in the best-of-seven WNBA Finals.
Minnesota swept the season series against Golden State, winning two games on the road and two at home to take the series 4-0. Game 1 between the two teams will tip off on Sunday in Minneapolis.
