Chicago Sky guard Dana Evans calls out a play while Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams prepares to defend during Friday night’s game at Target Center. Photo by Abe Booker III/Sportspage Magazine
The Minnesota Lynx opened up the second half on an 11-0 run to find the separation necessary to defeat the visiting Chicago Sky 83-66 at Target Center Friday night in front of a crowd 8,810 strong. With the win, the Lynx sport an 11-1 record since the Olympic break and are currently in second place in the WNBA standings with just three games remaining in the regular season.
It was the Chicago Sky who got things going in the first quarter by jumping out to a 14-7 lead on an 11-2 run fueled by nine points on 4-4 shooting and one free throw by guard Chennedy Carter.
The teams traded baskets during the next few possessions before the Lynx went on a 7-0 run with a midrange jump shot from guard Courtney Williams, a jump shot and free throw from forward Dorka Juhasz and a layup from forward Myisha Hines-Allen. Minnesota cut the deficit to four points, but forward Napheesa Collier fouled Sky center Kamilla Cardoso with just 4.2 seconds remaining before the quarter break. After Cardoso made both free throws, the Sky held a 22-16 lead at the break.
The pace of play slowed down in the beginning of the second quarter as the two teams probed each other to find an advantage. Minnesota center Alanna Smith made a basket which was answered by a three-pointer by Carter. Lynx forward Cecilia Zandalasini knocked down a three-pointer which was answered by a layup from Sky forward Isabelle Harrison. The Sky led 26-21 with 7:12 remaining in the half.
Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams dribbles through a screen set by teammate Alanna Smith during a game against the Chicago Sky on Friday at Target Center. Photo by Abe Booker III/Sportspage Magazine
Minnesota was able to gain momentum when Zandalasini hit a jump shot as the shot clock expired. It was answered by a three-pointer from Chicago guard Dana Evans. Then Lynx guard Kayla McBride connected on her 100th three-pointer of the season, becoming only the eighth player in WNBA history to hit that mark.
Collier made two jump shots, McBride hit two free shots after getting fouled by Sky guard Moriah Jefferson, and Courtney Williams stole the ball from Sky forward Michaela Onyenwere and converted it into a fast break layup. Minnesota now led 34-29 after the 14-3 run as Chicago took a timeout with 4:00 left before halftime.
Onyenwere scored a layup coming out of the timeout to end the Lynx run, but Minnesota immediately went on a 6-0 run with a layup from Alanna Smith, another steal and fast break layup by Courtney Williams, and two free throws by Collier. Chicago answered with a 4-0 run in the last two minutes after Smith fouled Cardoso and guard Lindsay Allen. Both Cardoso and Allen scored one of two free throws respectively. Minnesota took a 40-35 halftime lead.
Coming out of the halftime break, the Lynx, especially Williams, took it up a notch. Minnesota went on an 11-0 run beginning with a three-pointer from Collier, getting a layup from Alanna Smith in the middle, among three mid-range jump shots from Courtney Williams. Meanwhile, the Lynx defense made life difficult for the Sky, who went 0-8 from the field and committed one offensive foul. Minnesota held a 51-36 lead with 5:41 remaining in the third quarter when Carter sank two free throws after being fouled by McBride.
Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardoso prepares to shoot a layup as Minnesota Lynx center Alanna Smith defends during Friday night’s game at Target Center. Photo by Abe Booker III/Sportspage Magazine
Minnesota’s lead grew to 20 points when Hines-Allen scored on a put back layup with 1:01 left in the third, and then was wide open for another layup 22 seconds later. The Lynx led 64-44 after three quarters. They outscored the Sky 24-9 in the third quarter alone, which saw Chicago shoot 15.8 percent from the field on 3-for-19 shooting.
The Sky was not to be outdone. Even trailing by 20 points with 10 minutes left to play didn’t shake their confidence. When play resumed, they went to work immediately to try to get back into the game.
Cardoso scored a layup. Lindsay Allen hit a near half-court three-point shot as the shot clock expired. Carter hit a long jumper. Onyenwere converted two free throws after getting fouled by Collier, and then made a layup. The Sky cut the deficit to nine points after an 11-0 run. Minnesota led 64-55 with 7:41 remaining in regulation when the Lynx called timeout to regroup.
Coming out of the timeout, the Lynx went on a rampage. They racked up a 14-4 run down the stretch. McBride made four free throws; Hines-Allen hit a rare three-pointer from the elbow; Courtney Williams canned a mid-range jumper; Collier made a shot; and Alanna Smith connected on a three-pointer, her first in six attempts throughout the game. Guard Rachel Banham and Cardoso each scored for the Sky during that span. Minnesota led 78-59 with 2:27 remaining in the game.
Banham scored on a three-pointer and made two free throws, and Lindsay Allen made a jump shot during the last stretch for the Sky to try to get back in the game, but a three-pointer and layup from Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman neutralized Banham’s scoring.
Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter dishes off a pass while in the paint during Friday night’s game against the Minnesota Lynx at Target Center. Photo by Abe Booker III/Sportspage Magazine
When the final buzzer sounded, Minnesota won with an 83-66 final score, their 11th win in 12 games.
Minnesota went 33-for-73 (45.2 percent) from the field; 8-for-26 (30.8 percent) from three-point range; and 9-for-10 (90.0 percent) from the free throw line. They turned the ball over 11 times leading to 15 Chicago points.
“They don’t care who scores or gets the credit. That’s kind of been their way. It has been at the core of our success. There’s no escaping that,” said Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve regarding her team’s unselfish play. “Eventually you have to make plays defensively and offensively, but that’s your base and the level of trust that you have in each other, trust in the game plan and each other, even when you make mistakes. It’s special. I’m glad that they’re talking about it because it certainly is authentic.”
Chicago went 25-for-68 (36.8 percent) from the field; 4-for-17 (23.5 percent) from three-point range; and 12-for-17 (70.6 percent) from the charity stripe. They committed 12 turnovers which led to 15 Minnesota points.
“We started the game out great. Our energy level was high. We were doing all of the necessary things that we asked in the scouting report. They were detailed, everything was really detailed in that first and fourth quarter,” said Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon. “It’s about that sustained energy. In order to be successful you have to sustain that energy. The level of intensity has to remain at a very high level.”
Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams and forward Bridget Carleton high five each other during Friday’s game against the Chicago Sky at Target Center. Photo by Abe Booker III/Sportspage Magazine
“We’re getting there. We’re getting there. We’ve got to continue to work. We’ve got those three games remaining. Our mindset still doesn’t change. We can still control our own destiny down the stretch with these three games. We still feel comfortable with ourselves. We’re going to remain confident in ourselves. The mission remains,” Weatherspoon added.
The Sky took a 30-24 lead in points-in-the-paint, but the Lynx bested Chicago 11-7 in second chance points and 14-2 in fast break points. There were three ties and five lead changes in the contest.
“Offensively, we were ready in terms of some of the coverage that we saw before, but they were trending towards different coverages. I needed to play call Courtney [Williams] a lot more because when she’s playmaking, we’re really good,” said Reeve. “Once we got to those [coverages] we got into a rhythm and people were more open.”
The Lynx were led by 20 points from Napheesa Collier; 14 points from Courtney Williams; 11 points each from Myisha Hines-Allen and Alanna Smith. Williams led all players with 10 assists, while Smith led all players with 12 rebounds.
“They got it going in that first quarter. We had to refresh, reset and get it popping,” said Williams. “Our group just wants to win. We don’t have any energy vampires on our team so it makes it easy to talk to my teammates and for them to talk to me as well. We have such a great group and I’m so fortunate to be here with great people.”
Chennedy Carter led Chicago with 17 points; Kamilla Cardoso added 16 and a team-high 10 rebounds; Lindsay Allen and Rachel Banham each pitched in 10 points. Carter and Allen both led the Sky with five assists each.
“[We need to] find a way to come back when we do let them get a run. Just all of us getting on the same page and kind of giving each other grace,” said Carter. “You do have to understand that we have a lot of people out. We got a lot of changes. We’re trying to figure it out as best as we can. We’re putting our bodies on the line. Just give us grace. We’re just trying to figure it out.”
Minnesota now holds a 163-8 record since 2011 when holding their opponent below 40 percent in field goal shooting including 13-1 this season alone.
The Lynx (28-9) travel to New York (31-6) for a 2 p.m. CT game against the Liberty at Barclays Center on Sunday. The Chicago Sky (13-24) host the Phoenix Mercury (17-20) at Wintrust Arena at 5 p.m. CT also on Sunday.
