The Minnesota Lynx made easy work of the Connecticut Sun in Game 5 of their semifinal series on Tuesday night time, and have superior to the 2024 WNBA Finals. There, they’re going to tackle the top-seeded New York Liberty, whom they beat 3 times this season, together with the Commissioner’s Cup championship sport.
This winner-take-all showdown sadly didn’t stay as much as expectations. It took lower than eight minutes for the Lynx to construct a double-digit benefit, and the sport was actually by no means doubtful after that time. The Lynx led by as many as 24, and the Solar merely did not have the offense to beat that sort of deficit.
Napheesa Collier continued her sensible postseason with 27 factors, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks, and is now the primary participant in WNBA historical past to have at the very least 25 factors and 10 rebounds in three consecutive playoff video games. Courtney Williams added 24 factors, 5 rebounds and 7 assists, whereas Kayla McBride chipped in 19 factors and 4 assists.
That is the primary Finals journey for the Lynx since 2017, after they defeated the Los Angeles Sparks to win their record-tying fourth championship.
No. 2 Minnesota Lynx def. No. 3 Connecticut Solar, 3-2
- Sport 1: Solar 73, Lynx 70 (Solar, 1-0)
- Sport 2: Lynx 77, Solar 70 (Collection tied, 1-1)
- Sport 3: Lynx 90, Solar 81 (Lynx, 2-1)
- Sport 4: Solar 92, Lynx 82 (Collection tied, 2-2)
- Sport 5: Lynx 88, Solar 77 (Lynx win, 3-2)
Gamers to look at
Lynx: Napheesa Collier
Contemporary off a runner-up end on this season’s MVP voting, Collier raised her sport to a brand new stage in the course of the first spherical of the playoffs. She poured in 38 factors in Sport 1 to set what was then a career-high, then bettered that with a 42-point outing within the series-clinching Sport 2 win, which tied a WNBA document for factors in a playoff sport. Collier is an unbelievable two-way pressure and has had a few of her greatest video games this season in opposition to the Solar. If she retains taking part in like this, the Lynx can be robust to beat.
Solar: Alyssa Thomas
Thomas was a sufferer of her personal success in some methods this season. Her scoring dropped off, however she nonetheless put up 10.6 factors, 8.4 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 1.6 steals per sport on 50.9% taking pictures, and nobody actually seen as a result of it wasn’t fairly nearly as good as her historic 2023 marketing campaign. Few gamers are able to controlling a sport on each ends of the ground in the best way Thomas does for the Solar. She had her fourth profession postseason triple-double in Sport 1 in opposition to the Fever, and was arguably even higher in Sport 2 when she went for 19 factors, 5 rebounds and 13 assists.
Three keys to the collection
Lynx’s homecourt benefit
The Minnesota Lynx spent the tip of the common season chasing down the Connecticut Solar for the No. 2 total seed within the playoffs, and in the end secured that spot when Bridget Carleton hit a game-winning 3-pointer within the closing seconds of a dramatic win in Uncasville.
Now, the Lynx, who went a league-best 13-2 after the Olympics, have homecourt benefit for this collection. How a lot does that matter?
The Lynx had been tied with the Liberty for the most effective residence document within the league this season at 16-4, and their protection was distinctive inside Goal Middle. In 20 residence video games, they boasted a 90.9 defensive score. For context, if that they had executed that over the course of the season, it might be the bottom defensive score by any group because the 2007 Fever.
3-point taking pictures
The Lynx made 38% of their 3-point makes an attempt this season, which was not solely the most effective mark within the league, however the most effective by any group in a full season (excluding the COVID-19-shortened bubble season in 2020) because the Fever in 2007. The Solar, however, shot 32.7% from downtown for the season, and 34.6% after buying Marina Mabrey to spice up their outdoors assault.
A fair larger distinction is the frequency with which these groups shoot from the surface. The Lynx tried 25 per sport this season, whereas the Solar had been at 18, their makes an attempt barely budging with the addition of Mabrey.
| Staff | 3PA | League rank | 3FG% | League Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lynx |
25.0 |
sixth Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.
|
38.0 |
1st |
|
Solar |
18.0 |
eleventh |
32.7 |
sixth |
One other key distinction between the groups is that everybody within the Lynx’s beginning lineup is a prepared shooter, whereas simply two of the Solar’s most necessary starters as Alyssa Thomas and Brionna Jones refuse to shoot from outdoors of the paint. The Lynx had two gamers — Kayla McBride and Bridget Carleton — take over 200 3-point makes an attempt, whereas the Solar had none.
The taking pictures expertise and depth vastly favors the Lynx on this collection.
Patrolling the paint
A lot in the identical manner that the Lynx have an enormous edge on the perimeter, the Solar ought to be capable to management the paint. What they lack in top — DeWanna Bonner is definitely the tallest starter at 6-foot-4 — they make up for with power and physicality.
The Solar’s benefit inside ought to present itself in quite a few methods, whether or not that is paint scoring, journeys to the free throw line or rebounding. In all classes, they had been miles forward of the Lynx within the common season. This is a better have a look at the numbers, with league rank in parenthesis.
| Staff | Factors within the paint | Free throw charge | OREB% | Opponent OREB% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Solar |
38.5 (4th) |
0.317 (1st) |
30.8 (third |
27.3 (4th) |
|
Lynx Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.
|
28.1 (twelfth) |
0.230 (eleventh) |
26.6 (tenth) |
31.8 (eleventh) |
If there’s one space the Lynx’s elite protection might be attacked this season, it was inside. Can the Solar accomplish that to such an extent that it makes up for the anticipated 3-point discrepency? The reply could decide who wins this collection.
Prediction
This can be a fascinating matchup between two unbelievable defensive groups with utterly reverse approaches on the offensive finish. The Lynx have a significant edge when it comes to outdoors taking pictures, whereas the Solar determine to manage the paint. Each groups boast singular star forwards and dependable, veteran supporting casts.
Ultimately, the Lynx’s larger depth of choices on offense and homecourt benefit will show to be the distinction. Decide: Lynx in 5
