MINNEAPOLIS — Let’s be honest, this is the outcome we all wanted.
A series – heck, an entire season – these huge games are worth going the distance, and that’s exactly what the Minnesota Lynx will do after they avoided elimination with an 82-80 win over the New York Liberty on Friday night.
It was a decent performance by Lynx. Napheesa Collier is the best player, but the team earned a second seed and a spot in the finals. Everyone contributes. Everyone gives everything they have.
And no one gives up.
“This team has a unique ability to believe in themselves and believe in each other from the beginning of the season until Game 4,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said.
Collier had an outstanding performance Friday, finishing with 14 points and nine boards, two rebounds shy of a double-double. But the Lynx also got monster games from Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams. She definitely had it in her bag. Birkin is not from Target, I will tell you.
Alanna Smith and Bridget Carleton each had 12, meaning every Minnesota starter finished the game in double figures.
“The ups and downs and all that, this group is ready to handle it,” Reeve said. “It’s just special.”
And it will be a fitting conclusion to the WNBA Finals, which will feature five games for the first time since 2019.
The winners and losers of Game 4 are as follows:
winner
Alana Smith
This is a truly courageous performance.
Smith, who dealt with a lot of back pain on Friday, 48 hours after taking a hard fall in Game 3, finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, a block, two steals and an assist. Her defensive contributions don’t show up on the stat sheet, but she’s been strong again in the paint, especially when she has to deal with Jonquel Jones.
“All season, Alanna has been in that position for us,” Reeve said. “I appreciate her ability to turn around, be strong and do what the team needs. “It’s important that she’s on the floor with us.”
Although it was certainly difficult for Smith to run, she was able to play for 30 minutes. Reeve said she didn’t put a time limit on her and approached the game as if Smith understood “if Alanna sits on the bench too long or too long, we’ll make adjustments.” “I wasn’t worried about anything else.”
bridget carleton
It felt fitting that one of the Lynx’s most unsung heroes hit the game-winning shot. Carleton likes to say that Reeve is a “hustle play player.”
That was never more evident than with just seconds left when Carleton flew into the paint to rebound Williams’ miss with four seconds left and the game was tied 80-80. Carleton caught the ball, ran it upfield and was fouled by Sabrina Ionescu, sending Carleton to the line for a chance to take the lead. She drained both free throws, making what Collier called “the hardest shot in basketball.” .” Carleton finished the game with 12 points and numerous hustle plays. Reeve called it “the epitome of her year.”
spike lee
New York’s No. 1 basketball fan will get a chance to watch his new team, the New York Liberty, try to win on their home floor. Most likely, Lee will be sitting on the court. What more could he ask for?
their own bar
Reeve wears a specific game-day outfit when the Lynx play at home: sports jeans, a blazer, and some sort of graphic t-shirt.
In Game 4, Reeve wore the following shirt: “Their own bar” Minneapolis bar featuring only women’s sports – great publicity for a young local business.
“I don’t know much about these guys,” Reeve said, pointing to Collier and McBride. But when I go out, everyone talks about (us). Everyone says to me, ‘I came to this bar, and five years ago there wouldn’t have been any women’s games. All the TVs had the game on and the volume turned up, and the place was just crazy.’
“Obviously I am grateful that A Bar of Their Own has given women the opportunity to make it front and center. … Obviously, (the Timberwolves) brought energy to the city in the playoffs, and I’m glad to see that same energy because this team deserves it too.”
loser
Players in foul trouble
It’s never fun to have superstars stuck on the bench due to issues. Friday night, it was Brianna Stewart.
Liberty’s best player watched all night — she said Minnesota did a good job rushing her offensively — and finished with 11 points on just 5-of-21 shooting. She was in unpleasant trouble all night long and was whistled at by four individuals.
Sandy Brondello’s Wallet
New York Liberty Coach warm About officiating, dropping the F-bomb, and using the word “bloody” twice. Considering how calm Brondello usually is, this was her version of a wall-crawling, door-breaking frenzy.
“We didn’t get a call today. Should I talk about it at a press conference?” Brondello said, referencing Reeve’s complaint that officials favored Stewart after Game 3.
“They were hearing the ticking sound and we went down there and hit it and got nothing,” Brondello said. “All we want is to be fair. If we get hit, it’s a foul. I’m one of the coolest coaches in the league, but this makes me angry. Be fair. “If you get hit, it’s a fucking foul.”
For what it’s worth, Minnesota committed nine fouls, while Liberty had 14 fouls called, four on Stewart.
Oh, it looks like the refs also missed a timeout at the last minute.
Brondello said she wanted a timeout on Liberty’s second possession (which is where the F-bomb came in) but didn’t get it because officials couldn’t hear her. Stewart was whistled for a shot clock violation, the Lynx gained possession, and Carleton was fouled under the basket. She made both to seal the win.
“They couldn’t hear me. So I have to take responsibility for that.” Brondello said about the timeout. “Maybe I should sprint onto the court next time.”
person looking for drama
For a heated moment, it looked like there was major drama brewing for UConn, with Geno Auriemma being the culprit.
After the game, Collier was asked about a text Stewart allegedly received from his former coach. I told them to drop 50 points to the Minnesota Lynx in Game 4. That would be a problem because Collier, the Lynx’s star player, also played at UConn.
With Stuart. On a team that won a national title.
“I think he wants them to win. He doesn’t text me,” Collier said. “I guess I’ll have to text him about a few things now.”
In fact, she had 14 points, 9 rebounds, 4 steals and 4 assists in the Lynx’s 82-80 win in Game 5.
“Wow, that’s some Husky drama,” said McBride, a Lynx teammate who played at Notre Dame. “Go Irish!”
Unfortunately, that wasn’t true. There was no text to Stuart, no choice made.
It looks like the annual reunion can go ahead as planned.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY. WNBA Finals Winners and Losers: Unsung Heroes Help Lynx Force Game 5.
