In 2013, the San Antonio Spurs have been one Ray Allen three-pointer away from an NBA championship. However Miami Warmth ahead Chris Bosh grabbed the offensive rebound, discovered Allen within the nook, and the remaining is historical past. The Warmth went on to win their second consecutive NBA title.
In 2024, the Minnesota Lynx dropped Sport 5 after Lynx ahead Alanna Smith was referred to as for a foul on Liberty star Breanna Stewart within the waning seconds of regulation. The Liberty went on to win in additional time. The Lynx have been fuming on the podium, the chance to safe an elusive WNBA title having slipped by means of their fingers.
Everyone knows how the Spurs responded to that defeat. The next season, the Spurs received a league-best 62 video games throughout the common season. They went on to defeat the Warmth in 5 video games in a Finals rematch, profitable all 4 video games in double digits. One of the vital devastating losses in fashionable basketball was avenged.
The Lynx appear destined to comply with within the Spurs’ footsteps. They presently have a 23-5 file and sit 5 video games forward of the Liberty. On Wednesday, they defeated New York within the season’s first WNBA Finals rematch.
The Lynx, just like the Spurs, aren’t significantly flashy. They’re a small market crew that, till final Spring, had acquired little or no nationwide consideration. However, in Napheesa Collier, Courtney Williams, and Kayla McBride, they’ve three All-Stars who vividly keep in mind the bitter style of defeat on the Barclays Heart in October.
Contained in the Minnesota Lynx’s success this season
Collier is having an MVP season, averaging 23.8 factors, 7.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.7 blocks per sport. She’s taking pictures 53.7% from the sphere — a career-best — and hitting 90.6% from the road on a career-most 5.5 free throw makes an attempt.
Williams is averaging 13.8 factors and 6.4 assists per sport, setting new profession highs in each classes. In Wednesday’s win over the Liberty, she tallied 13 assists and simply 1 turnover.
McBride is having one other stellar season, averaging 14.4 factors and taking pictures 38.4% from three. And, the ever-reliable Alanna Smith is averaging 9.6 factors and 5.5 rebounds per sport.
The trail to a WNBA title will seemingly run by means of the Liberty, and whereas they’ve had some struggles of late, they lately acquired Belgian star Emma Meesseman, who is anticipated to make her debut any day. Meesseman was the 2019 Finals MVP and serves as one other addition to an already-stacked roster headlined by Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, and Leonie Fiebich. Any one among Stewart, Ionescu, or Jones can emerge as the perfect participant on the ground on any given evening. And, if Messeman performs something like how she did when she final laced up within the WNBA, she may do the identical.
In Wednesday’s showdown, it was Collier (30 factors, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks) who led the best way for Minnesota. McBride tallied 24 factors and 5 assists, hitting 5 of 9 three-pointers. Sabrina Ionescu, who’s within the midst of an MVP marketing campaign of her personal, scored a game-high 31 factors.
Different groups may make Finals runs; the Phoenix Mercury, Seattle Storm, and Atlanta Dream have all had dominant stretches this season, the Las Vegas Aces nonetheless have A’ja Wilson, and if Caitlin Clark comes again wholesome and finds her groove, the Indiana Fever may make a push, too.
However, all indicators level to a Lynx-Liberty rematch. On Wednesday, we obtained a sneak peak of what that will appear like. And, if the Lynx proceed to dominate as they’ve for many of this season, they’ll avenge a heartbreaking Finals loss — identical to the Spurs did.
