The Minnesota Lynx beat the New York Liberty to win the 2024 Commissioner’s Cup. In doing so, they’ve re-established themselves as title contenders. Forget the Connecticut Suns and the Liberty; the Lynx must be recognized as a serious threat to win it all. The team is led by 3x All-Star and former Rookie of the Year Napheesa Collier, but the roster has no shortage of talent from top to bottom. Their rookies have shown flashes of upside in their limited minutes, the team chemistry is on point, and despite an injury to Diamond Miller, they found a way to win.
Major Upset in the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup
Minnesota had a dominant run from 2011 to 2017, winning four WNBA titles. Head Coach Cheryl Reeve would like to return to the finals, as the closest they’ve come since was in 2020. The team went 14-8 that season, finishing fourth overall in the league. After being swept in the semifinals, they fell to the eventual champions, the Seattle Storm. After winning the regular season Commissioner’s Cup, they’re poised to make a title run as a dark horse. With the Las Vegas Aces having a down year, it’s a perfect opportunity for the Lynx to step up and grab a championship.
Carleton Stepping Up For the Lynx
Bridget Carleton is playing the best basketball of her career. She’s letting it fly from beyond the arc and has been a defensive menace. This season, Carleton has boasted a three-point attempt rate of 76% while knocking down 44% of her shots from deep. For reference, Caitlin Clark has a three-point attempt rate of 65% and only knocks down 35.5%. It’s safe to say Carleton is one of the best long-range shooters in the WNBA. Additionally, she’s been a lockdown defender, with an incredible defensive rating of 96, tied for 11th best in the WNBA. That number is even more impressive when you consider she’s often tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best scorer. Her 3-and-D ability is unmatched, and the former Iowa State Cyclone doesn’t seem keen on slowing down anytime soon.
Minnesota Rookies Impress In Limited Minutes
Alissa Pili had more hype than Olivia Epoupa coming into the season, but the French product has shown she may be more league-ready than Pili. Epoupa had a breakout game on June 2nd when the team hosted the Dallas Wings. In just 14 minutes of play, she recorded four points, four steals, and two assists. She’s also second in steal percentage with 6.1
Pili had a breakout game of her own, and it couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. On Minnesota’s Native American Heritage Night, she put up 20 points, going 4-4 from deep. It was an emotionally charged performance, as Pili is of Samoan and Iñupiat descent. It was a great moment for her and the team as they coasted to an easy win. Interestingly, the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Rob Dillingham, also of Samoan descent, in the recent NBA draft. Now, both professional Minnesota basketball teams have a player of Samoan descent.
How about Alissa Pili tonight?
20 PTS
7-9 FG (77.8%)
4-4 3P (100.0%)
2-3 FT (66.7%)4th first-year WNBA player with 20+ PTS and 4+ 3PM shooting 75+% from the field and perfect from three. Only one of the 4 to do so off the bench.https://t.co/NCO5zri2Mw
— Across the Timeline (@WBBTimeline) June 1, 2024
Napheesa Collier Demanding Respect in MVP Conversation
There is no denying A’ja Wilson is the clear-cut favorite to win MVP. However, Collier seems to be her biggest contender. While DraftKings currently has Wilson listed at -500 to win MVP, Collier is listed at +1300. The next closest player is Alyssa Thomas at +1500. Regardless of an MVP award, Collier is having a terrific season. She has a PER of 25.0, good enough for fifth in the entire league this season. The 2019 Rookie of The Year is also first in Defensive Win Shares, with 2.1. While the team lost their most recent game to Dallas, they’re on the right path and have momentum. Perhaps we’ll see them in this season’s WNBA Finals.
