Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the WNBA daily as we try to heal from this pandemic.
The Minnesota Lynx have won their second straight game.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Minnesota Lynx.)
Like I said before, the Minnesota Lynx are a better team than their record indicated. That record might start to catch up soon.
Napheesa Collier was fouled with 1.5 ticks left and converted both foul shots. The Atlanta Dream did not have any timeouts left and Courtney Williams‘ desperate heave hit all glass. The Lynx have now won two in a row and halted the Dream’s three-game win streak.
Collier and Crystal Dangerfield scored 19 of 23 fourth quarter points. The Lynx had contributors all around and it especially helped since Damiris Dantas left with a back injury. Collier went for 26 points, Kayla McBride had 17, Layshia Clarendon scored 14, and Dangerfield had 13.
It really puzzles me about Clarendon. An all-star in 2017, the New York Liberty released her earlier in the season when I thought that maybe she could offer backcourt depth for a team that won only two games in the Wubble. Instead, the Lynx picked Clarendon up and her leadership skills have been big for the team. It’s probably not a coincidence that the Lynx won both games since she got there.
Remember that this is a team that got to the Final Four in the postseason. And they didn’t have Sylvia Fowles for most of the season. They lost Odyssey Sims but gained McBride and Aerial Powers as well as the aforementioned Clarendon acquisition. So I felt this team had a chance to get back to the WNBA semis with more firepower.
But chemistry takes time. They did lose a close one against the Mercury and they had to face their nemesis, the Seattle Storm, twice. The Lynx did hand the Connecticut Sun their first loss.
So we should see the Lynx shape over time. The team is too talented not to. In fact, it’d be kind of a shock at this point if they don’t make noise. The last time they missed the postseason was 2010.
It’s a long season.
Bullet Passes
I am very happy to see Aari McDonald score 15 points against the Lynx. She’ll have more opportunities as long as Chennedy Carter is out.
Satou Sabally and Allisha Gray returned to the Wings and Katie Lou Samuelson was back for the Storm.
Sabally sent the game to overtime with a toenail two-pointer. It would’ve been a game-winner but the attempted three was ruled a two.
It was the Storm’s third overtime game (second against Dallas!). And guess what? Jewell Loyd did the deed again. Play below.
WNBA Scoreboard
June 4, 2021
Watch This Play
This looked a bit familiar to Sparks fans last season. Jewell Loyd with the deadly three to win the game.
JEWELL. LOYD. DID. THAT. #StormWins@jewellloyd x #TakeCover pic.twitter.com/66PyaeSjUe
— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) June 5, 2021
Stephanie Talbot missed Breanna Stewart breaking free to the basket. Good thing, Loyd made the shot. I mean, was there any doubt?
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the WNBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.
R.I.P. Nala.