Sep 24, 2021 - Sports

Can the Minnesota Lynx add a second phase to their dynasty?

Nick Halter

Cheryl Reeve wears a blue shirt and holds a basketball next to Napheesa Collier — Can Cheryl Reeve (right) coach the Lynx to another WNBA championship with young star Napheesa Collier (left)? Photo: Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images

The Minnesota Lynx have a chance to extend their dynasty of the 2010s into a new decade when they begin the playoffs on Sunday.

State of play: After starting the season 5-7, the Lynx won 17 of their last 20 games and finished with a 22-10 record, earning a No. 3 seed in the WNBA playoffs.

They will take on the Chicago Sky on Sunday at 4pm in a single-elimination game

Why it matters: Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve has already solidified herself as one of the great coaches of all time, but winning a fifth WNBA title with an almost completely new roster would be a feather in her cap.

The core of Maya Moore, Lindsay Whalen and Seimone Augustus, who won four championships between 2011 and 2017, are long gone. Only Sylvia Fowles remains from those teams.
But a new core, led by Napheesa Collier, Fowles, Layshia Clarendon and Kayla McBride, are hoping to run the table this fall.

What they're saying: The Lynx are somewhat long shots to win the title because analysts say it's hard for a No. 3 seed to pull it off.

FiveThirtyEight gives Minnesota a 10% chance of winning it all. But regardless, the Lynx have a young team that should make noise for years to come.

"The Lynx are my title favorites next season if they remain healthy," wrote Chantel Jennings, the Athletic’s WNBA writer.

The bottom line: With the Twins out of the playoffs, the Vikings off to an 0-2 start and the Wolves in disarray, the Lynx are providing Minnesota sports fans something the other major teams in town aren't: Real hope.

OK, maybe there’s also some hope for the Wild, which this week extended phenom Kirill Kaprizov for five more years.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with the Sunday game time.

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Can the Minnesota Lynx add a second phase to their dynasty?

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