Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles tries to block a reverse layup attempted by Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier on Sunday at Target Center. Photo by Abe Booker III/Sportspage Magazine
MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota forward Napheesa Collier and guard Kayla McBride combined for 43 points as the Lynx eclipsed the Sun 102-63 in front of 8,821 at Target Center on Sunday night.
The Lynx wasted no time in building a lead, which they never relinquished. Collier scored a quick layup for the 2-0 lead, which was matched by a short jump shot by Sun center Tina Charles for the 2-2 tie. Lynx guard Courtney Williams popped off a three-pointer to give the Lynx the lead, which they never relinquished. Forward Alanna Smith scored on a reverse layup and forward Bridget Carleton nailed a three-pointer to put the Lynx ahead 10-2 and force the Sun to call timeout with 7:26 remaining in the first quarter.
Sun guard Jacy Sheldon came out of the timeout energetic and made a jump shot, layup and three-pointer, and forward Saniya Rivers added a bucket, but Minnesota answered with shots from Carleton and Collier. Minnesota led 14-11 after Sheldon’s three-pointer.
Smith and McBride scored for the Lynx. Forward Aneesah Morrow made two layups for the Sun, but Rivers fouled McBride who was attempting a three-point shot. McBride’s three free throws gave the Lynx a 22-15 advantage with 2:02 left in the first quarter.
Rivers made a fast break layup with just under a minute to play, but McBride hit her first three-pointer of the game, and then Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman made a layup with less than five seconds remaining, which gave Minnesota the 27-17 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter started off with an injury to Minnesota guard Karlie Samuelson who went down with a leg injury and was taken off the court in a wheelchair.
Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles shoots over the outstretched arms of Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith during Sunday’s game at Target Center. Photo by Abe Booker III/Sportspage Magazine
The Lynx used that as an opportunity to rally. They pushed forth a 10-0 run with shots from Collier and Carleton, a free throw by forward Jessica Shepard, a three-pointer from Williams and a layup from Hiedeman. The 10-0 run forced the Sun to call timeout with 7:13 remaining in the quarter and the Lynx holding a 37-17 lead.
When play resumed, so did the Lynx. Williams hit a midrange jump shot. Collier made a layup. Smith made a layup and two free throws, and McBride chased the ball down the court and made a wide open three-pointer. The run was now 21-0 before Lynx forward Diamond Miller put Charles on the free throw line. After the made free throws, Minnesota held a commanding 48-19 lead with 2:40 left until halftime.
After Williams made a jump shot to extend the score to 50-19, Sun forward Haley Peters made a reverse layup. This was followed by a jump shot from Morrow. Peters finished the second quarter scoring with a three-pointer as Connecticut took a 7-0 run into the break. Minnesota led 50-26 at halftime.
The third quarter started off in Connecticut’s favor as Collier fouled center Olivia Nelson-Ododa, who then made two free throws. Collier answered that with a three-pointer, which was matched by one from Sun guard Bria Hartley to conclude the 12-3 Connecticut run.
Like the first two quarters, Minnesota went on a run of their own. Collier made two free throws after getting fouled by Sheldon. Williams and Collier scored on jump shots before McBride hit her third of five three-pointers on the day. After a quick 9-0 Minnesota run, the Sun called timeout with 7:18 left in the quarter with the home team leading 62-31. It was the third consecutive quarter when Connecticut called timeout with just over seven minutes left after a Minnesota run.
Connecticut Sun forward Aneesah Morrow shoots over the outstretched arms of Minnesota Lynx forward Maria Kliundikova during Sunday’s game at Target Center. Photo by Abe Booker III/Sportspage Magazine
After the timeout, the Lynx continued to press the run further. McBride made her fourth three-pointer of the contest. Hartley squeezed in two free throws for the Sun after getting fouled by Smith, but Collier responded with a put back layup on a missed three-point attempt by Williams.
Sun guard Jaelyn Brown and Smith battled for a loose ball. Brown grabbed at Smith and threw her to the floor. The play was reviewed by officials to determine if Brown needed to be assessed for a flagrant foul, but they ruled it a common foul. Smith made one of two free throws and Minnesota had a 68-33 lead with 4:40 left in the third quarter, capping a Lynx 15-2 run.
Morrow made a shot and two free throws before McBride hit her fifth and final three-point shot of the game. Collier added a layup to make the score 73-37.
Nelson-Ododa made two layups to round out the scoring for the Sun in the quarter. Her four points were negated by four from Collier, who scored on a layup and two free throws. Minnesota led by 38 points after Collier’s last layup, while Connecticut had only scored 39 points. Minnesota held the commanding 77-41 lead at the end of the third quarter after Nelson-Ododa’s second layup.
The Lynx went to their bench for the fourth quarter. Shepard scored twice to extend the Lynx lead to 40. Nelson-Ododa responded with a turnaround jump shot and tried to rally the Sun. Lynx forward Maria Kliundikova responded with a layup, but Nelson-Ododa answered with a layup. Kliundikova fouled Morrow, who sank two free throws. Brown then hit a three-pointer, which caused the Lynx to call a timeout with 6:46 left on the clock as the Sun was on a 9-2 run. The Lynx still led 83-50.
Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier and Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles both scramble for a loose ball during Sunday’s game at Target Center. Photo by Abe Booker III/Sportspage Magazine
Both teams went to their bench for the final seven minutes of play. Lynx forward Anastasiia Olairi Kosu was fouled by Brown and made two free throws. Morrow and center Rayah Marshall answered with buckets. Lynx forward Alissa Pili made a layup. Rivers put up a jump shot and two free throws before Pili hit a three-pointer. Kosu scored twice for the Lynx.
Hiedeman closed out the scoring with two layups and two free throws in the final two minutes. When the buzzer sounded, Minnesota had a commanding 102-63 victory, the 39 point margin being tied for the fifth largest margin of victory in WNBA history.
Minnesota went 36-for-71 (50.7 percent) from the field; 10-for-34 (29.4 percent) from three-point range; and 20-for-24 (83.3 percent) from the free throw line. They turned the ball over 13 times for 16 Sun points.
“I just liked how we came out and our approach in the game. We didn’t make excuses about coming off the road or being tired or any reason,” said Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve. “I thought our level of focus was really good. It probably had a lot to do with the last time we played these guys, that we just didn’t feel that we started the game very well. I think that’s what was on their minds.”
Connecticut went 23-for-66 (34.8 percent) from the field; 4-for-18 (22.2 percent) from three-point range; and 13-for-17 (76.5 percent) from the charity stripe. They committed 15 turnovers leading to 23 Lynx points.
“Tough to lose again. We have to come back stronger mentally and physically because the highest level demands physicality,” said Sun head coach Rachid Meziane. “They pressured us. It was hard to develop our offense.”
The Lynx led in all statistical categories. They held a 36-22 advantage in points-in-the-paint; 21-12 lead in second chance points; 18-7 advantage in fast break points; and 31-30 in bench scoring. There was one tie in the ballgame.
“Each game we have goals. We like meeting goals. There were a number of goals that we met and one we almost met,” said Reeve. “We just have high aspirations for what this team wants to be every time they show up.”
The Lynx were led by 23 points and nine rebounds by Napheesa Collier. Kayla McBride added 20 points; Courtney Williams added 12 points; and Natisha Hiedeman pitched in with 10 points. Williams and Hiedeman each dished seven assists to pace Minnesota.
Collier recalled Friday’s game when she said, “To have a lead where you can rest at the end of the game is definitely better than overtime.”
McBride’s five three-pointers put her ahead of Kristi Toliver for seventh in all-time three-pointers made in WNBA history. Her 653 made three-pointers puts her 74 behind Katie Douglas for sixth place. She and DeWanna Bonner, currently in ninth place, are the only two active players in the top ten in this statistical category.
The Sun was led by 16 points and 11 rebounds from Aneesah Morrow. Olivia Nelson-Ododa added 10 points. Lindsay Allen and Haley Peters each dished three assists to lead the Sun.
“We have to move on from this kind of game when you are playing the highest team in the league. We have one week to prepare for our next game against Las Vegas. We played them a few days ago so hopefully we can show some improved runs against them on Sunday,” said Meziane.
Minnesota (14-2) hosts the Indiana Fever (8-8) for a 7 p.m. CT matchup in Tuesday’s Commissioner’s Cup championship, before hosting the Washington Mystics for a 7 p.m. regular season game on Thursday. Connecticut (2-15) hosts Las Vegas (8-8) for a 3 p.m. CT game against the Aces on July 6.
