Even though the Minnesota Lynx are the WNBA’s top seed in the playoffs and the league’s most dominant team for most of the regular season, their first-round matchup with the eight-seed Golden State Valkyries was not going to be easy.
Fresh off a historic inaugural season, WNBA Coach of the Year Natalie Nakase and the Valkyries are a team that no one wanted to deal with in the early rounds of the playoffs.
Golden State doesn’t have the star talent to make a deep run. Still, their relentless defensive energy, physicality, and cohesion complement their three-point volume. It’s a recipe for disaster for any proven playoff frontrunner, especially in a three-game series. The Valkyries have nothing to lose.
Round 1 finished in a 2-0 sweep for the Lynx. Although the series and Game 2 ultimately prepped the Lynx for their second-round matchup and the rest of the playoffs. It showcased the conviction behind Minnesota’s “revenge tour” motto.
Few eight-seeds are going to possess the team culture, connectivity, and energy of Nakase’s Golden State Valkyries. Therefore, the Lynx’s Round 1 win should still be celebrated, even if it was something they were supposed to accomplish.
After a dominant 101-72 win in Game 1 at Target Center, Golden State took complete control early in front of a strong crowd of 18,543 in San Jose. The Valkyries and Balhalla were Minnesota’s first real test since securing the one-seed nearly three weeks ago and coasting through the final portion of the regular season.
Golden State built an early lead with continuous waves of defense, balanced scoring attack, and 7 of 11 3P shooting. They scored 27 points in the first quarter and went into the halftime break with a 41-28 lead.
The Valkyries threw off the Lynx’s offensive rhythm and took control of the physicality of the game.
At halftime, Minnesota was shooting just 12 of 35 (34.3%) from the field and 2 of 13 (15.4%) from three-point range. The Lynx occasionally generated quality looks, but they just couldn’t execute their optimal scoring opportunities to keep the score close.
Napheesa Collier was seeing increased pressure every time she got a touch, Courtney Williams could not get to her spots, and Kayla McBride could not fully capitalize on her open looks. The Lynx could not find a consistent rhythm on offense.
As the second half began, the Valkyries picked up where they left off. They quickly extended their lead to 17 with 9:02 remaining in the third quarter, their largest of the game, and looked to continue pushing the Lynx into a nearly insurmountable lead.
The Lynx eventually began to play like their usual selves, and cut it down to as low as eight points in the third quarter. Still, they entered the fourth quarter down by 11.
After that, something flipped for Minnesota.
From the 9:41 mark to 2:48 in the fourth quarter, the Lynx went on a 22-7 run and took their first lead since it was 7-5 with 7:25 remaining in the first quarter. Ultimately, Collier, McBride, and Bridget Carleton cut the deficit to a more manageable range.
Carleton went 4 for 4 from three-point range to help steer the offense in the right direction. Collier continued to find space to take long mid-range jumpers, and McBride had an unorthodox five makes from two-point range.
In the second half, Collier, McBride, and Carleton scored 37 of Minnesota’s 47 points, shooting an astounding 15 of 19 from the field. That ultimately propelled the Lynx offense back into rhythm and built off the defensive stops on the other end.
It was a slow buildup. Still, over the final 18:58 of the game, the Lynx outscored the Valkyries 47-29 and 26-11 in the fourth quarter.
The Lynx took over in clutch time. They won the final 4:46 of the game 12-5 to take a 75-74 win.
Minnesota doesn’t know who it will play in the next round, but it will be a playoff rematch with either the Phoenix Mercury or New York Liberty. Still, the Valkyries served as the perfect tune-up for the Lynx’s playoff run.
The Lynx had a far more talented roster than the Valkyries. However, in a three-game series, losing one game and having to play a winner-takes-all Game 3 is still a risk that teams don’t want to take. Minnesota’s resilience to overcome its stale first half, battle against the league’s most scrappy team, and overcome a 17-point deficit is hard to ignore. Even as the one-seed, they had to earn their spot in the second round.
There are many positives to take away from the Game 2 victory, especially since the three remaining series will play a Game 3.
Although, as Cheryl Reeve said in the locker room after the Game 2 win, “(Golden State) did their thing. They played good but not [good] enough.”
