The Minnesota Lynx were riding high in June. In 11 games, the Lynx lost twice and picked up their first Commissioner’s Cup Championship. The start of July was a different story.
After losing their first two games of the month, they travel west Friday night to try to turn what was a two-game losing streak into a three-game winning streak, against the Seattle Storm.
All season, Minnesota (16-6) has showed a roster where any night a different player could take control. In Los Angeles Tuesday, it was Bridget Carleton. The veteran led the Lynx with 16 points in the 82-67 victory. Carleton’s efficiency added to her franchise record-breaking shooting.
Carleton went 6-for-7 from the floor, making all four attempted 3-point shots.
“Shooting at least four threes going perfect, she has the most such games in Lynx history and so it just speaks to her efficiency, her consistency, her confidence,” said head coach Cheryl Reeve. “We asked her to do different things. We went small, she guards bigs, right? She brings the ball up for us, you know? Incredibly valuable for us.”
Minnesota’s small skid to start the month was fixed with a heightened focus on defense. In its current two-game winning streak, Minnesota has held opponents to 67 points each time. The improvement bodes well for Minnesota, but for Seattle it comes at a time when the team is struggling.
Seattle (14-8) welcomes Minnesota in during a stretch of two losses in their last three games. Wednesday, the Las Vegas Aces held off the Storm, with Nneka Ogwumike and Jewell Loyd both missing 3-point shots on the last possession that could have tied the game.
The Storm were outmatched physically in the paint by former WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson, who had 24 points and 20 rebounds.
“The adjustments, it has to be twofold,” said head coach Noelle Quinn. “It has to be our physicality; it has to be a rebounding effort. Can’t just rely on E (Ezi Magbegor) and Nea (Ogwumike) to come and get some rebounds. It has to be a focus on scout, the play types, being sharper in certain moments of the game.”
Despite the losses, Loyd is thriving in Seattle’s stretch of nine home games. Loyd has averaged 23.9 points in the team’s last seven games, although she has scored two points less than her 20.2 ppg season average in three previous defeats to Minnesota this season.
–Field Level Media
