Jul 28, 2013
When people think of WNBA dynasties, teams like the Comets, Sparks, or Shock should come to mind. If the Minnesota Lynx continue to play the way they have been this year, they might become a dynasty themselves.
The Lynx were WNBA champions in 2011 but fell short in 2012, losing 3-1 to the Indiana Fever. After a presumably frustrating offseason for the players, having to think about how close they came to winning it all, the Lynx have returned better than ever. They’ve added a solid piece in Janel McCarville and are currently 14-3, the best record in the WNBA.
McCarville, the 6 foot 2 center, has gelled quickly with her new teammates. Her 6.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and .544 FG% have helped the Lynx move to the top of the league. The quick chemistry could be a result of the history she and Lindsay Whalen already had, as they played together in college.
The Lynx lead the league in rebounding and passing, two highly important areas when it comes to winning basketball games consistently. On top of this, they are 3rd in points scored and 5th in points allowed, proving they can play at a high level on both ends of the floor.
A lot of their success can be attributed to their floor captain, PG Lindsay Whalen. The 5’9 floor general has played with veteran poise all year, and her 5.4 assists per game is highest on the team.
Leading the team in scoring is star forward Maya Moore with 16.4 PPG. Just her 3rd season in the WNBA and Moore is already proving to be a big success.
Though she may not get as much credit as the other girls on the team, guard Seimone Augustus has quietly been the most efficient player this year for the Lynx. She’s shooting .523% from the field and .850% from the line.
With the Lynx clicking on all cylinders this year, it will be harder for teams to stop them this time around come playoff time. It’s still unclear if we’ll someday call them a dynasty, but with all the pieces in place, it’s a good possibility.
