Sun 73, Lynx 70: Connecticut Claims Back-and-Forth Battle to Steal Game 1

The Minnesota Lynx and Connecticut Sun opened a best-of-five semifinals series on Sunday at Target Center, with Connecticut coming away with the big Game 1 victory.

With four teams left standing in the WNBA Playoffs, the Minnesota Lynx and Connecticut Sun took the next step in an attempt to reach the WNBA Finals with the start of the semifinals round.

Game 1 of the best-of-five series tipped off between the second-seeded Lynx and third-seeded Sun on Sunday night in Minneapolis, with a packed Target Center crowd witnessing a back-and-forth battle against two evenly-matched squads.

In the end, Connecticut was able to steal a game on the road and come out on top 73-70, now holding a 1-0 series lead as we shift focus to Game 2.

Battle to the Finish

These two squads were incredibly evenly matched during the regular season, and that carried over into the semifinals in Game 1.

Sunday’s contest featured a back-and-forth battle with neither team leading my double-digits in the contest. Connecticut led by as much as nine points early on in the game, while Minnesota led by as much as six points. With both teams going shot-for-shot down the stretch, we saw a total of 13 lead changes in the game that was decided by three points.

Leading the way for the Sun was Marina Mabrey and Alyssa Thomas, with Mabrey lighting it up from deep and Thomas putting together another near triple-double performance. Mabrey concluded with 20 points on six threes, while Thomas posted 17 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists and three steals in an impressive showcase.

On the side of the Lynx, Collier led the way with a near double-double of 19 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals. Behind Collier, Bridget Carleton was outstanding with 17 points, two rebounds and two steals, and Kayla McBride also reached double figures with 12 points and three dimes.

Defense, Defense, Defense

As expected between the top two defensive teams in the WNBA, Sunday’s Game 1 was a dog fight for both offenses while going up against stellar defensive units. Coming into the series, one of the key factors was what team would be able to be stronger defensively and would take a stand to do enough to come out on top.

In Game 1, that edge went to Connecticut, which gave Minnesota’s offense fits most of the game. On the other end, however, the Lynx did a relatively nice job defensively despite allowing another opponent to have success from three in the postseason.

Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images

Neither team shot the ball that well, which is a credit to both defenses, and also was able to turn each other over throughout the contest. Minnesota and Connecticut forced each other into 13 turnovers a piece, but the Sun managed to score 16 points off of Minnesota’s turnovers while the Lynx scored just eight points off of Connecticut’s turnovers.

Defense was, is and will be a key to which team comes out on top in this series. It was on display plenty in Game 1 and was the biggest reason why Connecticut was able to come out on top.

Collier, Smith and Reeve Honored

Ahead of Sunday’s Game 1, Collier, Alanna Smith and Cheryl Reeve were each honored with end-of-season awards.

As the frontrunner most of the season, Collier was awarded her first WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award to go along with an All-Defense First Team selection. Collier, who received 36 of the 67 votes for Defensive Player of the Year, is the second Lynx player to ever claim the award (Sylvia Fowles in 2016 and 2021).

“Thank you to my coaches for pushing me every day,” Collier said before Game 1 while being presented her award. “I’ve been so lucky with this team. No. 1 in defense and we worked really hard to get there. Thank you to my team for supporting me.”

Along with Collier, her teammate Smith also received defensive recognition, being named to the All-Defense Second Team. The honor is her first-ever end-of-season award of her career.

To round out the busy awards day, Reeve was not only named WNBA Coach of the Year (receiving 62 of 67 votes), but she was also voted as the WNBA Executive of the Year (receiving 10 votes). Reeve is the first coach in league history to earn the Coach of the Year award four times, while earning her second Executive of the Year honor.

“What comes to mind this time of the year is what has all gone throughout the season. … I think of countless hours of work in the offseason,” Reeve said before Game 1. “Though there’s one name on the awards, there are a lot of people along with me.

“I am extremely important that I have a team in Clare Duwelius, who is our general manager,” Reeve continued. “She has been the executer in so much of what we do, and has made my life so much easier. … Shoutout to Clare and all her work.”

Up Next

With Connecticut now holding a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five semifinals series, Minnesota and Connecticut will return to Target Center for Game 2 on Tuesday night before the series shifts to Connecticut for Games 3 and 4.

Game 2 between the two squads is scheduled for 8:30PM CT on Tuesday, with the game being broadcasted on ESPN2.