The Minnesota Lynx needs a break. Since the Commissioner’s Cup win, they have gone 3-5 and have dropped to fourth place. Time to panic? No. Every team slumps. That isn’t an excuse for poor play, but it happens. Against the Indiana Fever, there were moments when the defense looked pretty good, but still, the offense struggled. In the third quarter, it looked as though Minnesota had regained its composure and started playing Lynx basketball.
Their seven-point lead going into the fourth quickly dissipated, and the shooting woes continued. Although Kayla McBride‘s three-pointer got them to within one point with 2 minutes left, that was the last basket they scored.
Make no mistake; Indiana is a tough team. Aliyah Boston scored a double-double with 17 points and 16 boards. Caitlin Clark was held to 2-11 from three, and only scored 7 points in the first half, with 10 in the second. Kelsey Mitchell added 21 points, the high for the game. The Fever have also gone 6-4 in their last ten games, and currently sit in seventh place in the standings.
The Lynx Without Their Superstar and the Upcoming Break
Certainly, the absence of Napheesa Collier has had an impact, not only on her abilities but as the leader of the team. Not having her on the court disrupts their rotation, and makes substitution a little problematic. The shooting woes that the Lynx have endured lately will end. What they accomplished from the beginning of the season until a couple of weeks ago has not been for naught. Slumps happen, and then teams get out of them.
3️⃣ pic.twitter.com/Z1MS5iRtfG
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) July 14, 2024
Every team needs a break. The schedule has been brutal for everyone, and teams have all had their ups and downs. Indiana has had a few more ups than others, and as they approach the .500 mark, the competition isn’t going to get any easier. Not that this was an easy win; it wasn’t. But it was a good win. With an attendance of just shy of 19,000, there was plenty of excitement both on the court and in the stands.
The Lynx have work to do. For teams on a roll, the Olympic break can serve as a momentum killer, and for struggling teams, it provides some time to regroup, re-energize, and get to form. With Minnesota still in the Top 5, their chances of staying there are relatively good. The Indiana Fever, while not quite the juggernaut of the league, will have opportunities to climb higher. However, the hurdles of Seattle, Las Vegas, Connecticut, New York, and yes, Minnesota, will not be the easiest to overcome.
Final Thoughts
The hoopla surrounding Caitlin Clark is entertaining, although it is important to really look closely at what is going on. Perhaps at another time, I will elaborate, but not at the moment. With more than half the season in the books, I for one am eager to see what happens after the Olympics. The All-Star game should be a good one. The Olympic squad needs to find out where they are, and the All-Stars will do their best to get in their way.
And that, my friends, as they say, is that.’ — Martin Ruben.
Follow Beyond Women’s Sports for more from the world of sports.
