The Minnesota Lynx have not always played perfect basketball this season, but their record remains perfect nonetheless.
The Lynx will look to stay unbeaten when they tip off against the Seattle Storm (3-1) on Tuesday evening in Minneapolis. It will be the finale of a three-game homestand for the Lynx, who are coming off back-to-back wins over the Dallas Wings and Connecticut Sun.
According to players on the Lynx, the biggest reason for the team’s 4-0 start is the leadership of star forward Napheesa Collier.
“She’s the most consistent player in the league,” forward Jessica Shepard said. “Every night, you know what you’re going to get from her. Our team was really struggling (in our most recent game), and she kept putting the ball in the basket when we needed baskets. Without her, it’s a rough basketball game.”
Seattle also has delivered a strong start to the season. The Storm lost their season opener against the Phoenix Mercury but have followed that with three straight victories against the Wings, Mercury and Las Vegas Aces.
Storm coach Noelle Quinn said the team’s latest win, a 102-82 beatdown against the Aces, offered an exciting glimpse into the group’s capabilities.
“A lot of times, the Aces are measuring sticks throughout the season because they’re a well-oiled machine and have so much firepower at every position,” Quinn said. “So, to have a win like this, this early, it’s good to grow from. It’s good to see where we can be and who we can be against a top team in this league.”
Seattle will face another top team in Minnesota, which is led far and away by Collier. She is averaging 29.5 points and 7.3 rebounds through four games to go along with 2.5 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks per contest.
Courtney Williams ranks second on the Lynx in scoring with a 12.8 average and leads the team with 7.2 assists per game. Two others are averaging in double-digit points: Alanna Smith (11.0) and Shepard (10.5) — the latter being tops with an 8.5 rebounds per game.
For Seattle, Nneka Ogwumike leads the way with 20.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Skylar Diggins is averaging 19 points and a team-high 8.8 assists per contest, and Gabby Williams is averaging 11 points.
The Lynx won the season series 3-1 against the Storm in 2024. Seattle lost the first three matchups before posting a 91-63 win in their last meeting on July 12.
–Field Level Media
