MINNEAPOLIS — Alyssa Thomas flexed, let out a yell and marched toward the sideline. With Napheesa Collier’s 3-point heave falling short, Thomas could finally relax and with that, her emotion finally poured out. In a game that seemed destined to be determined by inches, it was Thomas who gave the Sun the cushion it needed, scoring Connecticut’s final two points and then playing lockdown defense on Bridget Carleton — Minnesota’s best hope at a game-tying 3.
Thomas might’ve ended one assist short of a triple-double (17 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists) but The Engine powered the Sun to a 73-70 win over the Lynx in game 1.
The game was a back-and-forth affair with no team truly establishing control for more than a few minutes at a time and neither team ever being able to grab a double-digit lead. The game more than lived up to its billing as a prime defensive match-up — a battle of the WNBA’s two best defensive teams and four members of the first and second all-defensive teams, including the WNBA’s defensive player of the year, Napheesa Collier.
Connecticut held Collier, who had set a WNBA record by scoring 80 points through the first two playoff games, to 19 points. The Sun switched on Collier often, and despite Minnesota’s best efforts to isolate her in the post through screening actions with mismatches, the Sun forced Collier into taking as many shots outside of the paint as she did in the paint.
The Engine doesn’t stop WORKIN’ 🔥
Alyssa Thomas flipped the playoff switch and never looked back! Tonight, she nearly logged another triple-double with 17 PTS, 9 REB, and 10 AST, leading the Sun to a Game 1 victory#WelcometotheW | #WNBAPlayoffs presented by @Google pic.twitter.com/1JRK8BLQub
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 30, 2024
“It was a team effort,” Thomas said. “Coming into this series, she was hot. Really hot.”
Minnesota’s strength came in the Lynx’s defensive discipline. They forced nine turnovers and tallied seven blocks and eight steals and forced four shot clock violations while fouling Connecticut just 10 times. The Sun only landed on the free throw line three times, giving Minnesota — which lost the battle from beyond the 3-point line — a fighting chance to keep it tight by not giving up points when the clock wasn’t running.
But despite that strong defense the Lynx struggled to contain Marina Mabrey, who scored a game-high 20 points and hit six 3-pointers, including one that broke a four-minute scoreless stretch for the Sun in the second quarter. “I just try to sense pockets of us going into droughts,” Mabrey said. “Picking my spots and being there whenever they need me.”
On the other end, the Lynx — which averaged 10 3-pointers a game this season — couldn’t find any counters from long range. Minnesota hit just five 3-pointers as Kayla McBride and Alanna Smith, two of the Lynx’s top long-range threats, combined for just 1 of 9 from range. Additionally, shortly before the game, reserve guard Cecilia Zandalasini was ruled out. Reeve said the decision was precautionary, but the 44 percent 3-point shooter was also missed by the Lynx.
Through the second and third quarters, Minnesota went on runs in which it looked like the Lynx would be able to secure the win at home, entering the fourth quarter with a five-point lead which in this match-up, typically feels like a significant cushion. But, in the final quarter, the Sun put the clamps on and the Lynx went cold. Collier went 3 of 5 from the floor (before her Hail Mary heave)as the rest of her team combined for 1-of-12 shooting in the final 10 minutes.
“We had to be disruptive,” Connecticut coach Stephanie White said. “We had to try to force them into uncomfortable shots and understand that they’re going to make uncomfortable shots, and when they did, we didn’t let that get us down.”
After Sunday’s win, the Sun will look to add to their advantage on Tuesday night in Game 2, but they know that this match up — one that saw three games decided by a total of eight points during the regular season — is one that will always be a battle. Stealing one on the road is impressive, but adding two wins, with the series returning to Connecticut for Game 3, would be monumental.
“It’s a tough series. It’s going to continue to be a tough series,” Thomas said. “It always comes down to the wire with them.”
(Photo: David Berding / Getty Images)
