Lynx Dominate Mercury with Relentless Defense and Rally in the WNBA

In the first leg of the semi-final, the Minnesota Lynx huddled in the locker room during halftime against the Phoenix Mercury. After conceding 47 points in the first half, the team focused on how to regain control of the game. There were no accusations or blame. Instead, questions were raised about how they could improve together. The result was an increase in defensive intensity, leading to an 82-69 victory, securing a 1-0 lead in the series.

It was a collaborative effort in terms of what they wanted to do in terms of schemes. Everyone was involved.

Cheryl Reeve, Lynx coach

These conversations have become common for the Lynx during the regular season, often acting as catalysts that help them win the game.

We have been through many adverse situations in the last two years together. We always know it’s a team effort. We know that in those moments we need a brainstorming session. We are not alone. We are doing it together. We are trying to solve problems and do whatever it takes to win. It was another example of that today in the halftime conversation.

Kayla McBride

After allowing the Mercury to score 42 points in the paint in the first half, the Lynx limited them to only 12 in the second, outscoring Phoenix by 20 points in the last 20 minutes of the game. The key was to improve their defense in what Reeve called “the most difficult play to defend for any team in the league,” where Phoenix inverts the screen and puts their opponent’s smallest player on Alyssa Thomas. In the first half, Thomas scored 16 points, his second-highest playoff half-point total of his career, and scored or assisted on 23 of the Mercury’s 47 first-half points. In the second half, Thomas only scored two points.

The Lynx double-teamed Thomas on seven possessions in the second half, and she went 0-1 with a turnover. The Mercury did not score on those possessions where Thomas was double-teamed, according to ESPN Research.

Minnesota forced Phoenix to rely on other parts of its offense, mainly by forcing the Mercury to shoot 3-pointers, but they ended up with only 3 of 23 from beyond the arc.

They made adjustments, and I still think we had a lot of open shots. I felt like it was similar to the previous series, where we just didn’t make the open ones.

Alyssa Thomas

Minnesota forced Phoenix to shoot 5 of 23 on contested shots in the second half, after 14 of 25 in the first half. After the Mercury had a lot of success scoring after drives early on, the Lynx cut that efficiency almost in half. Courtney Williams finished with 23 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 steals, becoming the fifth player with a playoff game of 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals in league history, joining Breanna Stewart, Alyssa Thomas, Tamika Catchings, and Sheryl Swoopes. McBride added 21 points and 6 rebounds, and Napheesa Collier had 18 points and 9 rebounds. The game was tied at 59 at the start of the last quarter, but the Lynx outscored the Mercury 14-2 in the last five minutes of the game to secure the 13-point victory.

We never feel like we’re down. We’re a resilient group, so we never look at the scoreboard. We just try to get wins.

Courtney Williams