Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride lead Lynx over Liberty

The lengthy look ahead to the primary assembly this season of the 2024 WNBA Finals groups ended Wednesday with a 100-93 victory by the Minnesota Lynx over the New York Liberty. The primary-place Lynx are actually 23-5, gaining extra floor within the standings on an evening when the second-place Liberty (17-9) and third-place Phoenix Mercury (16-10) misplaced.

The Goal Heart crowd of 10,824 was energized all through, and Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve mentioned it reminded her of Video games 3 and 4 of the Finals final yr in Minneapolis.

“Precisely what you’d anticipate, no matter who was enjoying for them, no matter how far into the season it was,” Reeve mentioned, an acknowledgment that two-time league MVP Breanna Stewart of the Liberty was out injured. “Followers have been excited to see this matchup, and I believed they have been handled to a heck of a basketball recreation.”

That mentioned, Lynx gamers Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride, who mixed for 54 factors, mentioned it did not really feel as very like a Finals rematch as a result of it was so deep into this common season, which began Could 16.

To them, it was about this one recreation, particularly coming after a 90-86 loss to Atlanta at dwelling Sunday.

“It is enjoyable to compete at a excessive stage towards the second-best staff within the league,” McBride mentioned. “We did not want numerous motivation. We had simply misplaced our final dwelling recreation. The principle factor was defending our dwelling courtroom earlier than something.

“There’s so many aspect tales that everyone retains speaking about. I really feel like this staff has actually good heads on our shoulders. It may have been anyone strolling in right here; we simply weren’t going to lose two dwelling video games in a row. It was New York, and all people has this narrative round it, and we are able to really feel that, too. However on the finish of the day, we have been on the market competing 40 minutes. And it may have been anyone.”

New York coach Sandy Brondello advised reporters earlier than the sport that Stewart, who was damage Saturday in a loss to Los Angeles, has a bone bruise in her proper knee. The Liberty anticipate her again not less than by the playoffs, however it’s unsure when she would possibly return within the common season.

With out Stewart, who’s averaging 18.3 factors and 6.5 rebounds, the Liberty nonetheless had 5 gamers rating in double figures, led by guard Sabrina Ionescu with 31 factors. The Liberty shot 48.6% from the sphere and their 93 factors was properly above the league-best 75.4 factors per recreation the Lynx had allowed opponents coming into the competition.

However New York’s protection could not decelerate Minnesota, which shot 49.3% total and made 15 of 31 3-point makes an attempt. The Lynx additionally had 5 gamers rating in double figures, and Courtney Williams — regardless of a tough 1 of 13 capturing night time — had 13 assists.

Minnesota’s subsequent three video games are towards Las Vegas, Seattle and Washington. Then the Lynx play New York 3 times in a row: Aug. 10, 16 and 19. That is damaged up a bit for the Liberty, who even have video games Aug. 12 in Los Angeles and Aug. 13 in Las Vegas in that stretch. Both method, it is numerous head-to-head competitors between the Liberty and Lynx.

Collier prompt questions concerning the schedule of Lynx-Liberty video games must go to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, whereas McBride mentioned, “It is unusual why it is like that. There’s execs and cons in all the things. I might identical to it slightly extra unfold out.”

The 2024 WNBA Finals collection was received by New York in time beyond regulation in Recreation 5 final yr. The WNBA Finals have been prolonged to best-of-7 for this season.

Collier introduced up the very fact New York will likely be including ahead Emma Meesseman quickly. Meesseman has not performed within the WNBA since 2022 however has eight years of expertise within the league plus her success abroad and with the Belgian nationwide staff. The 6-foot-4 Meesseman’s presence will likely be much more vital to New York with Stewart sidelined.

“However identical to final yr, it is two actually nice groups,” Collier mentioned. “And if we occur to be within the Finals … to start with, we’re not that but, we nonetheless have numerous basketball to play. However [if we do] I feel it is going to simply be actually nice basketball.”