After three losses since the World Cup break, it has been nearly a month since the Minnesota Lynx notched a win. On Sunday, behind a strong first-half performance by Napheesa Collier that was echoed in the second half by Olivia Miles, the Lynx fended off the Connecticut Sun to stay a full game atop the standings. Coach Cheryl Reeve’s team sprinted out of the gates in each quarter and turned pesky defense into offense on the other side.
Collier did her work early, sealing her defender and getting her buckets
on a mix of layups and jump shots. The ever-energetic Courtney Williams got the rest of the offense going while Miles experienced more of the defensive attention. After building an 18-point lead in the first half, the Sun made the Lynx earn it the rest of the way.
In a team effort, Connecticut had four players each score 15 points, the magic number for the Sun today. Minnesota prioritized closing off drives and daring the worst three-point shooting team in the league to make shots from distance. Led by former Lynx pick Diamond Miller and Duluth native and rookie Gianna Kneepkens, the Sun took up the challenge and had a season-best day from three.
Three Pointers Served Two Ways
In the first half, the Sun found their range and hit eight of 11 threes, with Leila Lacon perfect on all three of her attempts. The voracious shooting ate away at the Lynx’s 18-point lead, eventually closing to within eight points near the end of the half on a Kneepkens open look, 49-41. At the beginning of the second half, Miller hit back-to-back threes to push against an early 6-0 Minnesota run. Connecticut hit two more threes throughout the quarter to cut the lead to seven, and three more after that to end the game with a scorching 15-for-28 from deep.
Serving up a different kind of three, the Lynx earned extra points hitting contested shots at the rim as the whistle blared. Of Phee’s 19 first-half points, nine of them were earned in and-one fashion, a wry smile crossed her face as she dapped up her teammates.
Olivia Miles earned her own and-one partway through the second and found Kayla McBride streaking towards the cup at the end of the quarter, hitting the layup through contact. A quick review of the foul proved McBride’s bitter comments towards the ref were true. She would hit the free throw to close out the half.
Over the past four games, the Lynx’s outside shooting appears stuck in syrup. In those games, they have shot 33%, 32%, 27%, and today 19% from three, well below their 38.8% season average. As long as they can garnish their attempts at the rim with a shot from the charity stripe, they’ll persevere.
Minnesota forced 20 turnovers today and yet only turned those efforts into 25 points. Connecticut repeatedly sprinted back on defense and disrupted the attempt, oftentimes winning the ball back. It’s encouraging to see the Lynx’s effort renewed on defense, leading to more fast-break opportunities. They’ll need craftier finishing or more pull-up three-point attempts to go in to reward that effort.
Rookie Record Belongs to Miles
Early in the second quarter, Olivia Miles drove to the hoop and was fouled. Making her first attempt, she overtook Caitlin Clark for sole possession of the Rookie scoring record. She continued to press the attack at the rim with a mix of burst and crafty hesitation.
She finished the game 21 points clear of the old record on seven from 10 shooting, along with six assists to one turnover, three rebounds and two steals.
End of the Connecticut Sun
This is the last game Minnesota will play at the Mohegan Sun Arena. The Sun are moving to Houston, where they will take up the mantle of the Comets, the first-ever WNBA champion team. This hit home for me as my wife was born and raised in Connecticut, and the state is in mourning over the loss of its only professional team.
Brought up on UConn basketball, the residents of the Constitution State know ball and have seen the Sun be playoff regulars year over year. They have cheered them to the Finals four times, never once taking home the title. For myself, I have seen the way they impact their state. Multiple times I have been in the terminal in Hartford and watched the Sun or their competition stroll through. The local team would regularly stop for their fans, give autographs, and be a part of the community.
I am happy that the fans in Houston are getting their storied team back. I just wish it didn’t have to come at the expense of fans who have remained loyal through the peaks and valleys.
Hopefully, the Sun rises back over the rolling hills of Connecticut in the near future.
Wrap Up and Prepare for Cold Season
Minnesota was the heavy favorite to win today. The Sun, long out of the running and down three core contributors, have only pride to play for at this point. They sit just two games above the league’s worst Seattle Storm. You can only play who is in front of you, and today, the Lynx stood on business.
Liv, Phee, and the Lynx are back in action on Tuesday, September 22nd, to take on the Indiana Fever in the first of two bouts to close out the season. The game tips off at 7 pm and will get the bright lights of national coverage on ESPN. Like the Lynx, the Fever are desperate for wins at season’s end to put themselves in position for home-court advantage. They are eight and two in their last 10 and, at this writing, are losing by 21 at half to the Washington Mystics.
UPDATE: They are down 17 at the time of editing this.
A Lynx win in either game against the Fever, and they lock up the top seed and home court throughout the playoffs.
