MINNEAPOLIS — Cheryl Reeve is acquainted with what the hours main as much as Sunday evening will carry.
The Minnesota Lynx coach has participated in 5 of the final seven Sport 5s within the WNBA Finals. Every of her three assistants was along with her for no less than a kind of contests, too.
What’s forward of her and her employees when the Lynx and New York Liberty play (no less than) 40 extra minutes to determine this 12 months’s champion isn’t essentially a shock. A grinding, tightly contested affair appears all however assured. Three of the 4 video games on this sequence have been determined by one possession. The lone exception (Sport 2) was a 2-point recreation with 3 minutes and 40 seconds to play earlier than New York’s lead ballooned to double digits.
Minnesota’s 82-80 Sport 4 win Friday evening was the sequence’ closest recreation from begin to end. It featured 13 ties and 14 lead modifications. Neither workforce led by greater than 6 factors. The explanation?
“I’m going to say in all probability info gathered within the three video games,” Reeve mentioned. “Every little thing is getting tougher. There’s no secrets and techniques at this level.”
There are not any mysteries, no methods and no stunners — solely an exhilarating sequence that can attain its deserved conclusion when the league’s prime two groups tip off another time at 8 p.m. in Brooklyn. In a historic season for the WNBA, extra data appear sure to fall. The sequence’ first three video games all hit TV viewership highs. Each arenas set new WNBA attendance data, and stellar particular person performances have been aplenty.
“The gamers deserve all of the credit score for the present that we’re being handled to,” Reeve mentioned.
19,521 folks. Close to sellout.
Largest attendance in Lynx franchise historical past.Everybody Watches Womens Sports activities 💪 #WNBAFinals @WCCO pic.twitter.com/32ERUzKzty
— Marielle Mohs (@MarielleMohs) October 17, 2024
What’s going to determine the primary Sport 5 of a WNBA Finals since 2019 stays an open query.
Maybe a star will bounce again. Look to the Liberty’s Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu after each struggled in Sport 4, lacking 9 of their first 10 photographs. Or perhaps Lynx star Napheesa Collier will cap a three-week span by which she has scored probably the most factors in postseason historical past with another showcase efficiency to assist Minnesota turn out to be the third straight workforce to win a title on an opponent’s ground.
New York and Minnesota shot the identical share from 3-point vary Friday (39.1 %), so Sunday’s victor could possibly be so simple as which workforce will get sizzling from deep.
Or will the officiating matter? Reeve used a part of her Sport 3 press convention to critique the sequence’ refereeing. Friday was Liberty coach Sandy Brondello’s flip to pipe up.
“I do know Cheryl talked about it final time, however we received no calls right this moment,” Brondello mentioned. “So do I would like to speak up in a press convention? As a result of they have been getting ticky-tacks. And we went down there and received hit and get nothing. All we would like is honest. If we’re getting hit, that’s a foul. You already know, I’m one of many nicest bloody coaches on this league, however this pisses me off. Simply be honest.”
The Liberty took 11 fewer free throws than the Lynx in Sport 4, however that they had taken eight extra free throws heading into Friday evening. “I believe Phee has some issues to show that the fouls weren’t referred to as,” Reeve mentioned.
Will an sudden X-factor emerge? Liberty wing Betnijah Laney-Hamilton was the distinction in New York’s Sport 2 victory, and Leonie Fiebich has been central to the Liberty’s playoff run. Lynx guard Bridget Carleton, described by Reeve because the “hustle-play participant,” hit the game-winning pair of free throws and scored 5 of her 12 factors over the ultimate 3:30 of the competition. And Minnesota reserves Ceci Zandalasini, Natisha Hiedeman and Dorka Juhász have been as impactful in Sport 4 as they’ve been all sequence.
“They have been prepared,” Reeve mentioned. “It was good to have the ability to have gamers in a position to sub in and keep on the market for prolonged time.”
However Sunday just one stat will matter.
“Yet one more (level) than the opposite workforce,” Ionescu mentioned.
Although upset they didn’t shut out the finals in Minneapolis, Brondello remained optimistic of New York’s possibilities because the sequence flips a ultimate time again to Brooklyn. The Liberty labored all season for what it has in entrance of them — a deciding recreation at dwelling — and she or he is aware of what to anticipate.
“It should undoubtedly be one other sellout, and it’ll undoubtedly be loud. And we have now to carry our ‘A’ recreation,” Brondello mentioned. “We’ve received another recreation, and we’re going to win on our dwelling court docket.”
Reeve mentioned she’s relishing the Lynx’s ultimate moments of the season collectively. “I believe that what I’m simply thrilled about is that this group will get to expertise the Sport 5,” mentioned Reeve, who’s 3-2 in her prior finals Sport 5 appearances. “It’s past phrases how we really feel about this workforce, and we simply so needed them to be within the finals, No. 1, and two, put themselves ready to win a championship.”
Simply 4 quarters stay.
“It could possibly be anyplace, actually,” Lynx All-Star Kayla McBride mentioned. “It doesn’t matter. We’re going to be on the market collectively going to battle, and I’m pumped.”
So again to the deciding elements. What would be the key?
“Want I knew,” Reeve mentioned. “I’d both not eat or stay awake, or I’d sleep actually good if I knew the distinction. It’s two nice groups. Who is aware of?”
(Photograph of Courtney Williams: Choua Yang / NBAE by way of Getty Photographs)
