WNBA: Connecticut Sun at Minnesota Lynx – Report From Section 111

Given the way this season has gone so far, it may be safe to say that no game is a guaranteed win. That several teams have struggled mightily is no secret, but each of these teams have had their moment. The Connecticut Sun came into Target Center Sunday night looking for a moment against the league leading Minnesota Lynx. It was not the moment they were looking for.

Looking at the Connecticut roster, it is hard to say why they have only won two games. However, it is a completely revamped team including new coach Rachid Meziane. Coming in with no real chemistry, two weeks or so of training camp, having to learn new plays and styles of playing to form a cohesive unit is a daunting task.

But it makes you think, at what point, after losing so many games, does trust between a coach and players begin to corrode, and can it be salvaged. Does it become a counterproductive force? I don’t think anyone really has answers to these questions. But this is a team that is not without talent and experience, so is it possible to right the ship as best they can? Of course it is possible.

Minnesota Took Control From The Start Against Connecticut

The Minnesota Lynx dominated from the get go. Minnesota is in a way the antithesis of Connecticut; they have solid chemistry, a highly successful and experienced coach in Cheryl Reeve (although Meziane has had much success in Europe particularly with the Belgian team)  and enough veterans well versed in building chemistry.

Minnesota, as of late, have had some difficult games in terms of consistency, having to play catch up occasionally, but usually coming out on top. Yes, they have two losses, one to a Seattle team that has good and bad games, and one to the new version of the Washington Mystics, who have been one of the surprise teams in the league. 

The Lynx held the Sun to 34.8% shooting, while coming in at 50.7%. Each team had a few too many turnovers, with the Sun 15 and the Lynx 13. Minnesota dominated there paint and more than doubled the Sun’s fast break points.

Leading Scorers For Both Teams

Napheesa Collier led all scorers with 23, followed by Kayla McBride with 20, Courtney Williams with 12 and Natisha Hiedeman off the bench with 10. Aneesah Morrow scored a team high 16 off the bench for the Sun, followed by Olivia Nelson-Ododa with 10, the only two Sun players with double figures. 

By the end of the third quarter, Minnesota had a lead of 77 – 41. Each team essentially sat their starters, and the Connecticut bench acquitted themselves as did the Lynx bench, with Minnesota edging the Sun 25 – 22. Of particular interest was watching Lynx rookie Anastasiia Kosu play an impressive and aggressive seven minutes, scoring six points, and displaying her athleticism, which the crowd and the Lynx bench heartily applauded.