- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,257,514
- Reaction score
- 59
The Minnesota Lynx are proving why they are one of the hottest teams in the league and a threat for the 2026 WNBA title.
The Lynx improved to a league-best 25-6 after capturing their 10th-consecutive win, 108-100, against the Indiana Fever at Target Center in downtown Minnesota on Sunday, August 2.
Rolling on all cylinders, it's the franchise's first 10-game winning streak since 2016. The Lynx ultimately advanced to a WNBA Finals appearance that season.
The Lynx were led on Sunday by their backcourt featuring star rookie point guard Olivia Miles and shooting guard Courtney Williams, who combined for 55 of the team's 108 points.
Miles scored 28 points by going 11-of-14 from the field, 3-of-6 on 3-point field goals and making all three free throw attempts. Miles also contributed six assists. Williams dropped 27 points on 12-of-20 shooting from the field with five assists.
Miles recorded her 10th game with at least 20 points and five assists, passing Maya Moore for most in Lynx history since 2015.
"It's special. It's definitely a grounding moment to realize what I'm doing and taking a step back to be grateful that I have the opportunity to to do so," Miles said in the postgame press conference. "But most importantly, I'm just glad we're winning, and it means we're we're on pace to do a lot of special things this season."
Minnesota recently welcomed back star forward Napheesa Collier from a series of ankle injuries, including a Grade 2 tear of three ankle ligaments suffered in last year's WNBA semifinals against the Phoenix Mercury.
In only her fourth game of the 2026 season, Collier seems to be getting back acclimated to the court. She put up 18 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in the Lynx's win against the Fever.
The Lynx held on to a 64-53 half time lead and continued to maintain a double-digit lead going into the fourth quarter. Minnesota led by as many as 14 points in the final period, forcing Indiana having to play catch up.
"I think just keep our composure," Williams said. "We understand that basketball is a game of runs and it's a great team, so we knew we weren't gonna close them out. So I think just staying confident, not getting wavered by them going on a run, just staying locked in on what it is we know we need to do, and knowing that our run is coming up."
The Fever did just that, making the bulk of their run in the fourth quarter. Indiana scored 12 unanswered points to bring the Lynx lead to just 98-96 after Caitlin Clark found Kelsey Mitchell for a 3-point field goal with under three minutes in the game.
Mitchell had a game-high 37 points on 14-of-21 field goal shooting, including 6-of-8 from 3-point distance. Clark finished with a double-double, adding 19 points and 10 assists.
"I just think, I think offensively, we're going to be who we're going to be. I just think we just got to take a couple more steps defensively, and I think we put ourselves in a great position," Mitchell told reporters after the game. "I think that our group is one of the most resilient groups I've been a part of. I'm a ride or die with my group, no matter what."
"I think that that's our edge, is that we gonna always stay together, no matter what. And I think once we do hammer home, some of the points that we need to work on, we'll get ourselves in a better position," she added.
Both teams traded buckets in the final minutes of the game before the Lynx's backcourt pulled away with a victory.
The Fever committed 12 turnovers in the game and allowed 15 points off those throwaways while being out-rebounded . Another one of the key takeaways from the game was on the glass. The Lynx outrebounded the Fever, 33-23, including pulling down 11 offensive rebounds setting up second-chance points.
"At times, we did get stops, and then we just shot ourselves in the foot by not actually going and get the ball, whether it's a 50/50 ball, whether it's an offensive rebound or defensive rebound," Clark said. "But we had moments, and you got to give us credit. Like we found a way to fight. I thought our second half defense was a lot better, especially on Miles. Like we really limited her in the second half. Obviously, she comes up with a huge bucket there at the end of the game. But other than that, like we kind of took her out of the game."
Clark added, "proud of our group for you know finding ways to adjust, and you know that's what you have to do versus a really good team. They're they're dominant across the board with the players that they have. Obviously, I have feedback into the lineup. They're a difficult guard. They're a difficult guard for everybody in the league, and they're just efficient in everything that they do. So, like I said, proud of our fight, but we know we're right there, and that's probably what stinks about it."
The Fever next game is at home against the Las Vegas Aces on August 6. Tip-off is at 4 p.m. (7 p.m. ET) The Lynx next contest will be a home game against the Los Angeles Sparks will tip-off beginning at 6 p.m. (9 p.m. ET).
Here are the WNBA highlights from August 2 featuring the Minnesota Lynx and Indiana Fever.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Lynx hold on to 4th quarter lead, defeat Fever for 10th straight win
Continue reading...
The Lynx improved to a league-best 25-6 after capturing their 10th-consecutive win, 108-100, against the Indiana Fever at Target Center in downtown Minnesota on Sunday, August 2.
Rolling on all cylinders, it's the franchise's first 10-game winning streak since 2016. The Lynx ultimately advanced to a WNBA Finals appearance that season.
The Lynx were led on Sunday by their backcourt featuring star rookie point guard Olivia Miles and shooting guard Courtney Williams, who combined for 55 of the team's 108 points.
Miles scored 28 points by going 11-of-14 from the field, 3-of-6 on 3-point field goals and making all three free throw attempts. Miles also contributed six assists. Williams dropped 27 points on 12-of-20 shooting from the field with five assists.
Miles recorded her 10th game with at least 20 points and five assists, passing Maya Moore for most in Lynx history since 2015.
"It's special. It's definitely a grounding moment to realize what I'm doing and taking a step back to be grateful that I have the opportunity to to do so," Miles said in the postgame press conference. "But most importantly, I'm just glad we're winning, and it means we're we're on pace to do a lot of special things this season."
Minnesota recently welcomed back star forward Napheesa Collier from a series of ankle injuries, including a Grade 2 tear of three ankle ligaments suffered in last year's WNBA semifinals against the Phoenix Mercury.
In only her fourth game of the 2026 season, Collier seems to be getting back acclimated to the court. She put up 18 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in the Lynx's win against the Fever.
The Lynx held on to a 64-53 half time lead and continued to maintain a double-digit lead going into the fourth quarter. Minnesota led by as many as 14 points in the final period, forcing Indiana having to play catch up.
"I think just keep our composure," Williams said. "We understand that basketball is a game of runs and it's a great team, so we knew we weren't gonna close them out. So I think just staying confident, not getting wavered by them going on a run, just staying locked in on what it is we know we need to do, and knowing that our run is coming up."
The Fever did just that, making the bulk of their run in the fourth quarter. Indiana scored 12 unanswered points to bring the Lynx lead to just 98-96 after Caitlin Clark found Kelsey Mitchell for a 3-point field goal with under three minutes in the game.
Mitchell had a game-high 37 points on 14-of-21 field goal shooting, including 6-of-8 from 3-point distance. Clark finished with a double-double, adding 19 points and 10 assists.
"I just think, I think offensively, we're going to be who we're going to be. I just think we just got to take a couple more steps defensively, and I think we put ourselves in a great position," Mitchell told reporters after the game. "I think that our group is one of the most resilient groups I've been a part of. I'm a ride or die with my group, no matter what."
"I think that that's our edge, is that we gonna always stay together, no matter what. And I think once we do hammer home, some of the points that we need to work on, we'll get ourselves in a better position," she added.
Both teams traded buckets in the final minutes of the game before the Lynx's backcourt pulled away with a victory.
The Fever committed 12 turnovers in the game and allowed 15 points off those throwaways while being out-rebounded . Another one of the key takeaways from the game was on the glass. The Lynx outrebounded the Fever, 33-23, including pulling down 11 offensive rebounds setting up second-chance points.
"At times, we did get stops, and then we just shot ourselves in the foot by not actually going and get the ball, whether it's a 50/50 ball, whether it's an offensive rebound or defensive rebound," Clark said. "But we had moments, and you got to give us credit. Like we found a way to fight. I thought our second half defense was a lot better, especially on Miles. Like we really limited her in the second half. Obviously, she comes up with a huge bucket there at the end of the game. But other than that, like we kind of took her out of the game."
Clark added, "proud of our group for you know finding ways to adjust, and you know that's what you have to do versus a really good team. They're they're dominant across the board with the players that they have. Obviously, I have feedback into the lineup. They're a difficult guard. They're a difficult guard for everybody in the league, and they're just efficient in everything that they do. So, like I said, proud of our fight, but we know we're right there, and that's probably what stinks about it."
The Fever next game is at home against the Las Vegas Aces on August 6. Tip-off is at 4 p.m. (7 p.m. ET) The Lynx next contest will be a home game against the Los Angeles Sparks will tip-off beginning at 6 p.m. (9 p.m. ET).
Minnesota Lynx vs. Indiana Fever: highlights
Here are the WNBA highlights from August 2 featuring the Minnesota Lynx and Indiana Fever.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Lynx hold on to 4th quarter lead, defeat Fever for 10th straight win
Continue reading...
