Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. It is the WNBA Semifinals.
Alysha Clark made the game-winning shot in Game 1 against the Minnesota Lynx.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images.)
It’s been quite the rollercoaster ride for the Seattle Storm. It started out on Sunday when their game was postponed. But they were able to get negative tests from the Storm players who previously got inconclusive results and the series was able to start on Tuesday.
In the first half, we got a shooting duel between the surprising Bridget Carleton from Minnesota and the all-star Jewell Loyd from Seattle. It was a three-point shooting exhibition, really. The Lynx would go on to make 14 while the Storm ended up putting in 13.
In the third quarter, it was all Breanna Stewart as she put in 12 of her 21 points in the third. The Storm led by 9 points after three quarter and looked poised to run away.
The three-point shooting returned for the Lynx, though, as Napheesa Collier and Damaris Dantas made back-to-back behind-the-arc shots to start the fourth. Sue Bird would counter with a three herself. Then we had an amazing stretch where Phee would block Stewie three times. Collier would add a three after that and, suddenly, the Lynx led, 78-77. They would trade shots throughout until we got into an 86-up score with Collier getting the deadlocking lay-up.
And then this happened:
Watch This Play
Alysha Clark, more known for her defensive prowess, got the offensive rebound, stuck back the close shot, and won it for the Storm:
🚨 BUZZER 🚨 BEATER 🚨 STORM 🚨 WINS 🚨#StrongerThanEver pic.twitter.com/RQYuQIM2lt
— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) September 23, 2020
What a play. Clark was usually the #4 or #5 option for this team so it was good to see her get the spotlight on this one. We know Alysha as one of the best defenders in this game but she overpowered the Lynx to get the offensive board and putback. Like I said, it’s been a very tumultuous few days for the Storm but I’m sure they’re glad they got away with a Game 1 win.
But man, the young Lynx aren’t pushovers. Napheesa Collier seemed to have the game of her life by producing 25 points, 9 boards, and 6 blocks. Odyssey Sims was really steady throughout with 19 points while Bridget Carleton scored all 14 points in the first half. Crystal Dangerfield only scored 4 points but did dish out 6 dimes.
Loyd had 25 to lead the Storm. Stewie had 21 points and 10 boards. Sue Bird had 11 points and 8 dimes while Clark went for 12 points.
If we’re going to see this much fight between the surprising Lynx and the powerful Storm, we’re in for an exciting series.
Bullet Passes
So in the other game, the Connecticut Sun lost Alyssa Thomas halfway through the first. It was a shoulder injury and we’ve known that Alyssa has been playing with two torn labrums. When she got hurt, we knew it was bad because AT is one of the toughest people out there. It didn’t seem to matter with the Sun as they kept giving bruising defense to the Aces.
So they turned to the MVP. It was 75-up when A’ja Wilson converted a three-point play. After a steal by Angel McCoughtry, they went back to A’ja and she converted yet ANOTHER lay-up along with a foul. Wilson missed the foul shot but a heads-up play by Dearica Hamby gave them the board and a lay-up. The Aces would end the game with an 8-0 run.
Well, if this didn’t prove why A’ja was the MVP this year, I don’t know what would. She scored 29 points, grabbed 7 boards, and packed 7 shots. Amazing.
DeWanna Bonner scored 23 to lead the Sun while Briann January had 20 points. Jasmine Thomas followed her 31-point Game 1 with 10 points.
Alyssa Thomas did leave the building to get her shoulder checked. She returned to the Sun bench with a shoulder sling. We all thought she was going to rip the sling off and return but it was wishful thinking on our parts. Hope she’s good enough to play in Game 3.
Some of you people know that A’ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier host their own podcast called Tea with A & Phee. Apparently, they held a block party; they blocked 13 shots combined on Tuesday!
Double U Scoreboard
GAME 2: #1 LV 83 vs #7 CON 75 (Series is tied, 1-1)
GAME 1: #2 SEA 88 vs #4 MIN 86 (SEA leads series, 1-0)
Thank goodness that everyone is healthy after that scare. Hopefully, no more of that. The semifinals resume on Thursday.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
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