Attention, women’s basketball fanatics! The Minnesota Lynx have secured home-court advantage throughout the WNBA playoffs, after achieving their 31st victory, a franchise record, with a score of 94-70 against Connecticut last Saturday. The team demonstrated its prowess with five players scoring in double figures, led by Alanna Smith and DiJonai Carrington, both with 18 points each. Napheesa Collier contributed 17 points and 9 rebounds.
Last season, the Lynx were runners-up to New York, who had the advantage of playing at home in the WNBA Finals. This year, the Finals have expanded to a best-of-seven-game format. The Lynx not only hold the best overall record in the league, with 31 wins and 8 losses, but also the best home performance, with 18 wins and only 2 losses.The games are very difficult, no matter where you play. Having that home advantage and feeling the energy of your fans is huge.
Alanna Smith
Cheryl Reeve, the longest-tenured coach in the WNBA, has guided the Lynx since 2010. Under her leadership, the team has won titles in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017, in addition to reaching the finals in 2012, 2016, and 2024. In this 44-game season, the Lynx achieved their 31st victory in their 39th game, surpassing the 30 wins of the previous season in 40 games. Their best regular season winning percentage was 82.4% in 2016, with a record of 28-6. Currently, with five games remaining, the team has an impressive 79.5% winning percentage.We have a scenario where, if we win our home games, we win the WNBA championship. We believe in our home capabilities; our fans are fantastic. They are going to come and support us like crazy.
Cheryl Reeve, Lynx coach
Despite securing the home-field advantage, Reeve emphasized that they will not slow down for the remainder of the regular season.Week after week in the league, we’ve never really paid attention to our record. So, when you secure the spot and look at the record, you say: ‘Oh my God!’ What does it mean? That this group is really special.
Cheryl Reeve, Lynx coach
We don’t have that mindset that it doesn’t mean anything. It always means something. Can we work on some things that we have the opportunity to analyze? Maybe some combinations, build some momentum in some areas.
Cheryl Reeve, Lynx coach
Four of the Lynx’s remaining five games will be against teams that have already secured their playoff spot or are in the fight for one: Las Vegas, Indiana and Golden State (twice). Thursday’s game against Las Vegas, which has won 12 consecutive games, will also be the last regular season matchup between the leading MVP candidates, Collier and A’ja Wilson, Aces’ center.
