The WNBA is back! With the Olympics now in the rearview mirror, both the Minnesota Lynx and the visiting Washington Mystics will look to make a push. For the Mystics, the statistical chance to make the playoffs exists.
After being without Karlie Samuelson, Brittney Sykes, Shakira Austin, Didi Richards, and Emily Engstler in a variety of combinations, the Mystics will come into Minnesota with Sykes, Engstler, and Samuelson back in the line-up, with Austin a game-time decision. Richards will remain out.
Minnesota will have both Napheesa Collier and Olivia Époupa back on the floor and will look to regain their momentum to remain in the top tier after a rather lackluster July. It is a tight race among the top teams, and while the New York Liberty at the moment will look to hold on to the top slot, it is going to be a fast few final laps from here on in. As we’ve seen all season, everyone is and can be vulnerable.
How Both Teams Will Fare Post-Olympics
The question is will a little rust have set in during the month off for the Olympics? With such a hectic condensed schedule, every team was most likely looking at the break as a recovery period both mentally and physically. With Collier having been out prior to the Olympics, it is possible that those games, while important for Team USA, also gave Collier the chance to get back into her pre-injury shape.
came back with some hardware. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/5gc92Lk6nM
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) August 14, 2024
As no one is listed as out for the coming Washington game, the Lynx will want to come out with the drive that got them this far. With WNBA teams having between 14-16 games remaining, the margin for error is paper thin, and this race to the end should be an exciting one.
And that, my friends, as they say, is that.’ — Martin Ruben.
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