Sun sets on the Lynx

Connecticut 90

Lynx 75

The quirkiness of the current WNBA playoff schedule allowed the Lynx a unique advantage after forcing the Sun to a deciding game 3. The lower seed gets a home game if the series goes the distance, so the Lynx got to play for their season at Target Center. 

But that advantage quickly evaporated in a game the Sun led almost wire to wire, and were never seriously threatened in after halftime.

It was clear quite quickly that this was going to be a lot more game 1 than 2. The Sun blew the Lynx off the court in game 1 with a barrage of threes. And they were shooting the lights out early here too, running out to a 20-6 lead.

The Lynx found their footing somewhat, and put together their lone run of the night, a 19-6 burst, punctuated by a Bridget Carleton 3, that brought the Lynx within a point.

Game on? Well, not really. The Sun got back to hitting shots, the Lynx offense went cold (making only 2 shots for roughly the next 6 minutes) and after a DeWanna Bonner buzzer beater the Sun had a 15 point lead at the break. 

The 2nd half was mostly formality. Connecticut never turned it into a massacre like game 1. The Lynx were scrappy and every so often would have a little burst of momentum to offer a tiny morsel of hope. But any comeback was impossible, because the offense just wasn't there.

Only Napheesa Collier was up to the moment, bad back and all, as she put up 31 points (usually double-teamed). But nobody helped her. Kayla McBride had a dreadful game. Dorka and Diamond scored 10 points total (my gal Dorka barely played in the 2nd half). Carleton hit a few late shots to wind up the 2nd leading scorer.

Meanwhile the Sun's 1-2 punch of Bonner and Alyssa Thomas dominated. Connecticut always got the shot to nip any Lynx momentum in the bud.

This was a very memorable Lynx season, with the rebound from 0-6, the elevation of Collier into a major star, and the excellent rookie seasons of Dorka and Diamond. And they won just their 2nd playoff game since the end of the dynasty run. 

Will be interesting to see if and how they can take that next step up in 2024. They have one bonafide star, a very good #2, and the rooks should only improve. I believe they also will have a couple vets departing and leaving them some money to play with. I have no idea if there will be star level players available like there were last offseason. But they still need a few big pieces to add on to be able to really contend in a big way next year.