How does Courtney Williams size up Minnesota Lynx teammate and Most Valuable Player candidate Napheesa Collier?
“Aura, man. Everybody knows she’s a bonafide superstar,” Williams said. “That’s why she’s one of one. You don’t really find superstars that give it up the way she (does). The most humble person I’ve ever had to be associated (with).”
Collier looks to continue building her MVP resume Friday night when Minnesota hosts the Las Vegas Aces.
On Tuesday night, Collier stuffed the stat sheet in a 91-68 home rout of Chicago, finishing with 19 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four blocks. She’s averaging a career-high 23 points on 51.7 percent shooting while chipping in 7.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.7 blocks.
What’s more, Collier’s numbers are fueling the best team in the league. The Lynx are 21-4, 3 1/2 games better than the next-best record held by New York. They lead the WNBA in scoring margin (10.2 ppg), as well as field goal percentage, assists and blocked shots — all trademarks of a connected team.
Minnesota’s 13-0 home record doesn’t bode well for Las Vegas (12-12), which is playing the second half of a road back-to-back. The Aces started a four-game road trip Thursday night with an 80-70 loss in Indiana after coughing up an eight-point lead in the third quarter.
Las Vegas got its usual 20-point performance from A’ja Wilson, who’s averaging 22.4 ppg, and 19 from Jackie Young. But the Aces’ lack of production off the bench, a periodic concern this year, cropped up as they got just four points from five reserves in a combined 53 minutes.
Backup guard Dana Evans offered a spark Tuesday night in an 87-72 home win over Atlanta with 14 points but didn’t score in 14 minutes on Thursday. Evans said after the Atlanta game that Aces coach Becky Hammon has tried to instill an attacking mindset in her.
“She always tells me that no one can stay in front of me,” Evans said.
Las Vegas aims to even the season series after absorbing a 76-62 defeat in Minneapolis on June 17.
–Field Level Media
