SAN FRANCISCO — Regardless of their undefeated begin to the season, the Minnesota Lynx are unhappy with what they’ve proven to date.
“That is the factor with expectations — we now have to do extra as a result of our objectives are excessive,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve stated following Minnesota’s 86-75 win over the Valkyries on Sunday. “We do not wish to be pedestrian at something we do. There are occasions within the recreation we undergo stretches the place we’re simply not intentional. We do not acknowledge how arduous it’s to win possession on this league and what it takes. Being extra constant in that mindset is what we’re on the lookout for.”
The Lynx took commanding management of Sunday’s recreation within the third quarter, the place they held Golden State to simply eight factors. Minnesota outscored the Valkyries 22-4 from halfway of the third quarter to the center of the fourth to push a one-point lead as much as a 22 factors.
However up till that time, the 2 groups traded buckets all through the primary half.
The Lynx level to their protection as the rationale for the second-half turnaround — getting within the Valkyries’ house extra, taking management of the tempo and taking part in with higher execution. However that spotlight to element began within the locker room at halftime — when the Lynx have been trailing by one — with an impassioned speech from Reeve.
“She was expressing her frustration with us,” Napheesa Collier stated. “And actually, it is actually legitimate. The truth that we all know what to do and we’re not going out to do it, it is extraordinarily irritating… we have to go on the market and take duty.”
Even earlier than the sport, Reeve reminded her crew — which was coming off of a slim buzzer-beater win over the Phoenix Mercury — that they wanted to play with a excessive stage of ardour and energy.
“It is a matter of us locking in,” Courtney Williams stated. “We have to convey it each evening. I feel generally we take that with no consideration. We have to cease doing that. If we wish to accomplish the objectives we now have for ourselves, we will not be a second-half crew.”
Collier completed with 24 factors and 11 rebounds however did not appear to totally discover an offensive rhythm till the latter portion of the third quarter. Williams added 20 factors in 26 minutes.
Collier factors to the third quarter towards the Valkyries, in addition to different spurts all through the early season, as proof that Minnesota has what it takes to be a title contender — their final aim. Collier advised ESPN that she feels their win over the Seattle Storm was the one one she’d categorize as a “good recreation” for the Lynx.
Regardless of a 7-0 file — their greatest begin since 2017 — the mere flashes of excellence aren’t sufficient for them to be comfy,
“The aggressiveness and assertiveness that we come out with in sure video games, we have to do this in each recreation,” Collier stated. “We all know we will. We have now larger objectives this season than particular person video games. And yeah, it takes particular person video games to get there or we’re not going to achieve these larger objectives.”
She continued: “It is actually as much as us. We’re the one ones standing in our manner, which is the excellent news. And hopefully, that is the final time we’ll be speaking about this.”
