The place to observe WNBA playoffs: Minnesota Lynx vs. Connecticut Solar preview, bracket, prediction, schedule, TV

The Connecticut Sun used each little bit of their playoff expertise and hard-nosed protection to outlast the Minnesota Lynx in Sport 1 of the group’s semifinal sequence. Alyssa Thomas finished with a near-triple-double of 17 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, and hit the 2 greatest pictures of the sport within the closing minute to safe the win, 73-70. The Solar have now stolen homecourt benefit on this best-of-five matchup. 

The Lynx reached this level by sweeping the Phoenix Mercury within the first spherical, whereas the Solar did the identical to the Indiana Fever. That is the primary time Minnesota has reached this stage since 2020, whereas Connecticut is again for the sixth consecutive season. 

Forward of what needs to be a captivating sequence, here is all the pieces it is advisable know: 

No. 2 Minnesota Lynx vs. No. 3 Connecticut Solar

• Sport 1: Solar 73, Lynx 70 (Solar, 1-0)
• Sport 2: Solar at Lynx, Oct 1, 9:30 p.m. ET — ESPN2
• Sport 3: Lynx at Solar, Oct. 4, 7:30 p.m. ET — ESPN2
• Sport 4*: Lynx at Solar, Oct. 6, TBD — TBD
• Sport 5*: Solar at Lynx, Oct. 8, TBD — ESPN2

*If mandatory

Gamers to observe

Lynx: Napheesa Collier

Recent off a runner-up end on this season’s MVP voting, Collier raised her sport to a brand new degree 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 file for factors in a playoff sport. Collier is an unimaginable two-way drive and has had a few of her greatest video games this season towards the Solar. If she retains taking part in like this, the Lynx will probably 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 pretty much as good as her historic 2023 marketing campaign. Few gamers are able to controlling a sport on each ends of the ground in the way in which Thomas does for the Solar. She had her fourth profession postseason triple-double in Sport 1 towards 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 sequence

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 sequence. How a lot does that matter?

The Lynx have been tied with the Liberty for the perfect residence file 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 ranking. For context, if they’d finished that over the course of the season, it could be the bottom defensive ranking 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 perfect mark within the league, however the perfect by any group in a full season (excluding the COVID-19-shortened bubble season in 2020) because the Fever in 2007. The Solar, alternatively, shot 32.7% from downtown for the season, and 34.6% after buying Marina Mabrey to spice up their outdoors assault. 

A fair greater distinction is the frequency with which these groups shoot from the skin. The Lynx tried 25 per sport this season, whereas the Solar have been at 18, their makes an attempt barely budging with the addition of Mabrey. 

One other key distinction between the groups is that everybody within the Lynx’s beginning lineup is a keen shooter, whereas simply two of the Solar’s most vital 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 sequence. 

Patrolling the paint

A lot in the identical manner that the Lynx have a giant edge on the perimeter, the Solar ought to be capable to management the paint. What they lack in peak — 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 have been miles forward of the Lynx within the common season. Here is a more in-depth take a look at the numbers, with league rank in parenthesis. 

If there’s one space the Lynx’s elite protection might be attacked this season, it was inside. Can the Solar achieve this to such an extent that it makes up for the anticipated 3-point discrepency? The reply might decide who wins this sequence. 

Prediction

It is a fascinating matchup between two unimaginable defensive groups with utterly reverse approaches on the offensive finish. The Lynx have a serious edge when it comes to outdoors taking pictures, whereas the Solar determine to regulate the paint. Each groups boast singular star forwards and dependable, veteran supporting casts. 

Ultimately, the Lynx’s higher depth of choices on offense and homecourt benefit will show to be the distinction. Choose: Lynx in 5