The Minnesota Lynx and the Indiana Fever gave us a game, a well-played and hard-fought game. It’s not always pretty, but never without excitement. A game of runs, of ups and dips, with two outstanding players at the helm – Napheesa Collier and Caitlin Clark.
What won the game for Minnesota was experience, being able to take advantage of the Indiana dips. Being outscored by Minnesota in the third quarter by 17 points was a hell of a dip. Minnesota’s problem with the Indiana fast break was a dip. Other than that, players on each team stepped up when they needed to do so.
Lexie Hull, whose career got off to a shaky start, has become an important piece of the Indiana puzzle. Bridget Carleton, while not having quite the same start, is equally important to the Lynx, as her fourth quarter 3s indicated. Carleton has become a reliable and productive starter. You can’t say enough about Kelsey Mitchell‘s importance to the Fever.
dub in Indy. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/j57y9Sipor
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) September 7, 2024
A strong and dangerous offensive threat, Mitchell is relentless. Aliyah Boston provides an interior presence that is difficult to tame. Courtney Williams gives the point guard leadership that the Lynx have needed. New addition Myisha Hines-Allen brings solid veteran play, adding another element of maturity, and the Minnesota bench is much stronger than in previous years.
Both Clark and Collier are elite. Yes, Clark is not always in control of her on-court emotions, which can get her into trouble, mostly with herself. But this is something she knows and will continue to improve. Let’s not forget that aside from all the hype and attention surrounding Clark, she is still a rookie and still has a lot to learn. There is no reason to think that she won’t, but her contributions to the success of Indiana are undeniable.
Collier continues to show why she deserves MVP consideration. How the Lynx performs with her on the court is crucial to their continued success. What she brings to the team goes beyond the stat sheet. It is presence, energy, and leadership qualities that make Collier a success.
What’s Next For The Lynx and Fever?
What Christie Sides and Cheryl Reeve have done with their teams is really remarkable, and both deserve enormous credit for their diligence and commitment to their teams. It is impressive. This game was more like a playoff game, with each team fighting as hard as possible for the win. Complete team efforts on both sides.
Tonight was Minnesota’s night, and ultimately experience won them the game. But Indiana is a damn good team, make no mistake. They are a serious team that can do some serious damage. How they will fare in the playoffs will be worth waiting to see. No one should count out the Lynx as genuine title contenders.
Minnesota continues its road trip and will meet the Washington Mystics on Sunday in D.C. Indiana will welcome the Atlanta Dream on Sunday. Indiana will look to bounce back against the Dream, who will be coming off an overtime win versus the Dallas Wings. Another good weekend of WNBA basketball. The excitement is building. Enjoy the ride.
And that, my friends, as they say, is that.’ — Martin Ruben.
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