{"id":12314,"date":"2023-10-06T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-06T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swishappeal.com\/wnba\/2023\/10\/6\/23905917\/wnba-2023-review-minnesota-lynx-playoffs-napheesa-collier-diamond-miller-cheryl-reeve-kayla-mcbride"},"modified":"2023-10-06T15:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-10-06T14:00:00","slug":"season-review-minnesota-lynx","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gamefootballmobileanimeiphone.com\/index.php\/2023\/10\/06\/season-review-minnesota-lynx\/","title":{"rendered":"Season Review: Minnesota Lynx"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \"Connecticut
Napheesa Collier is the foundation of the next era of Minnesota Lynx basketball. | Photo by Jordan Johnson\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Napheesa Collier was the heart and soul of the Minnesota Lynx in 2023, but she needed more from her supporting cast to take the team further than the first round of the WNBA playoffs. <\/p>\n

With Sylvia Fowles retired, the Minnesota Lynx have transitioned to the Napheesa Collier Era. Collier was sensational, making the All-Star game for the third time in her career. But her success didn’t translate to a winning season, as the Lynx ended the year 19-21. That was still good enough for a playoff berth as the No. 6 seed and a matchup against the No. 3 seed Connecticut Sun. Minnesota did win a playoff game to force a winner-take-all Game 3, but, unfortunately, they were blown out by the experienced Connecticut team. <\/p>\n

Year one of the Collier Era featured signs of hope before ultimately ending in a whimper. Here’s more on everything that went right and wrong, as well as what’s next, for the Lynx:<\/p>\n

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What went right?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n \"Seattle
\n Photo by David Berding\/Getty Images<\/cite>
Diamond Miller and Napheesa Collier.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Everything started and ended with Collier. She led the team in points (23.7), rebounds (8.0) and blocks (1.3), making her the epicenter of the Lynx\u2019s system. The result was Collier keeping Minnesota in games they surely wouldn\u2019t have been in without her, as she carried the team on her shoulders. With Collier on the roster, Minnesota always had a puncher\u2019s chance of beating any given team. Her 26-point and 13-rebound performance catapulted the Lynx to a victory in Game 2 of the WNBA<\/a> playoffs. Even in the blowout loss in Game 3, Collier fought valiantly, scoring 31 points in her 37 minutes of play. Minnesota still has much to improve upon to become a contending team, but having Collier as the nucleus is an excellent start. <\/p>\n

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Napheesa Collier notches her third straight 20-point game <\/p>\n

That equals the longest streak by a Lynx player since Maya Moore in 2018 (7). pic.twitter.com\/7kEHtIsKEl<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 espnW (@espnW) June 17, 2023<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n