Thomas is a forward but runs the show, averaging 15.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and 9.2 assists during the regular season. Who will draw this assignment? I presume it will be Napheesa Collier, making this a battle of MVP finalists. They did guard each other at times during the regular season, but it will depend on who else is on the floor. And Reeve might have something else in mind.
Copper, Phoenix’s second-leading scorer during the regular season at 15.6 points per game, is going to be a handful. And Sabally is tough in the post and can make three-pointers. Bonner, a six-time All-Star, comes off the bench but will be on the floor at crunch time.
The Lynx had figured out how to beat New York, and they wanted revenge after losing to them in last year’s WNBA Finals. Courtney Williams made it clear multiple times during the regular season that she didn’t like the Liberty. Can she invent a reason to hate Phoenix?
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While six other WNBA playoff teams were preparing to enter the crucible of a win-or-pack-for-the-offseason Game 3, the Lynx rested following their sweep of Golden State. They flew home from San Jose, Calif., on Thursday for a well-deserved day off. On Friday they headed to Mayo Clinic Square to prepare for an opponent that, at the time, they didn’t know. So instead of going through scouting reports, they went through a few drills.
Since they had some time on their hands, hopefully the Lynx used it to address some things.
The first quarter of Game 1 against Golden State was concerning. And three quarters of Game 2 were downright troubling. That’s two games in which the Lynx started poorly and had to regroup. They were fortunate that they were facing an expansion team that overachieved and that their experience and elite talent won out at the end.
