WNBA Finals 2024: 3 Prompt Reactions to Lynx vs. Liberty on the Bracket
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Bleacher Report
It will likely be all chalk on this yr’s WNBA Finals.
The No. 2 seeded Minnesota Lynx crushed the Connecticut Solar 88-77 on Tuesday to seal a visit to the Finals, the place they are going to face the top-seeded New York Liberty, who downed the Las Vegas Aces within the semifinals.
Forward of what ought to be an thrilling collection, listed below are three on the spot reactions to this yr’s WNBA Finals matchup.
Liberty Have Extra at Stake in Finals
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The Liberty shaped one of many WNBA’s first true tremendous groups once they introduced in former WNBA MVPs Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones together with Courtney Vandersloot forward of the 2023 season.
Up to now, they’ve one WNBA Finals look however not a lot else to point out for.
New York obtained previous certainly one of its largest obstacles, the Las Vegas Aces, within the semifinals, now it is time to carry residence the franchise’s first championship.
The Liberty have appeared like the very best workforce within the league all yr, coasting to a 32-8 report and dropping only one sport en path to the Finals. Led by star guard Sabrina Ionescu and Stewart, New York has hit its stride within the postseason, and something aside from a championship can be seen as a disappointment.
That is to not discredit the Lynx, who’ve additionally had an incredible yr, however the backside line is New York has a roster composed of stars who’ve but to ship a long-awaited championship to the town.
Minnesota Has Been New York’s Most Worthy Opponent All 12 months
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Pretty much as good as New York has been this yr, Minnesota has been the one workforce to offer it actual hassle.
The Lynx beat the Liberty thrice this yr, together with a win within the Commissioner’s Cup Championship. They’re the one workforce to have beat New York a couple of time this season and for a workforce that has simply eight losses, Minnesota accounts for greater than a 3rd of them.
Of their most up-to-date matchup in September, Stewart dropped 38 factors, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient to get previous the scrappy Lynx squad.
Minnesota had the second-best defensive rankings within the league this yr at 94.8. When the Liberty face a protection that robust, they’re certain to slide up. In a five-game collection, the Lynx simply must overpower them on protection in three video games to take residence a championship.
Stewart vs. Collier Matchup Might Decide Finals MVP
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Simply two months in the past, Collier and Stewart performed alongside each other as they received a gold medal in Paris with Group USA.
Now, they are going to go up towards one another within the WNBA Finals in what ought to be a generational matchup.
Collier is taking part in among the finest basketball of her profession this postseason, averaging 27.2 factors and 9.3 rebounds per sport. Stewart has additionally been nice, placing up 20 factors and eight.2 rebounds per sport, nevertheless it has been removed from her finest postseason.
Collier and Stewart, each of whom performed for the good Geno Auriemma at UConn, are in numerous phases of their profession. Stewart is a confirmed vet with two championships and as many Finals MVPs. Collier, although properly achieved, remains to be lacking a pair of trophies from her resume.
It will likely be a battle between an already established nice versus one trying to submit her standing as one. What extra may you ask for?
