Storm Unable to Tame Lynx, Lose 83-64

Minnesota has Seattle's number this season.

(Minneapolis, Minnesota) - Sometimes it’s just a matter of being a bad matchup. Certain teams personnel works better against others. After three games against one another, the Minnesota Lynx clearly have the edge over the Seattle Storm. The Lynx have now won all three games by a total margin of 41 points. Despite a strong second quarter that put Seattle up five at the midway point, the Storm were outscored by 24 points over the final two quarters.

It was a physical game that got testy at times. The two quietest members of the Seattle Storm, Coach Noelle Quinn and Ezi Magbegor, both picked up Technical Fouls. In the fourth quarter, Nneka Ogwumike and Napheesa Collier got into two separate arguments that occurred after physical fouls against one another.

“Coming into Minnesota, the atmosphere is always like that. The fans are great. The level is always a notch higher just because they present that. It did feel like a playoff game with the physicality, with the back and forth. And hopefully, we have gained some perspective and some reps and understanding how to be better in that.” Coach Noelle Quinn said about the game.

Coach Quinn did her best not to get fined by the referees. But also stated there was a reason she got a technical. She also pointed out that both Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith didn’t have a single free throw attempt between the two of them. In total, Minnesota got eight more free throw attempts (21 to 13). They were a +9 in free throw makes over Seattle.

On Friday against Las Vegas, all four of Seattle’s star players had huge games. But on Sunday, only Jewell Loyd scored more than 20 points. Loyd led the team with 25 points but she needed 27 field goal attempts to get there (shooting 9-27 FG). As a team, Seattle struggled from beyond the arc (more on that later), none more than Loyd who finished the game shooting 1-9 FG from the three-point range.

Loyd spoke after the game about what went wrong.

“Honestly, basketball is a game of runs. (Their 2nd half) was a run. I think the flow of the game was, there was no flow with some certain calls. It didn't allow us to do certain things. They made shots. We didn't. They got stops. We didn't do that.” Jewell stated.

Nneka Ogwumike was the only other Storm player to score in double figures with 14 points. But she wasn’t able to match her counterpart, Napheesa Collier. Ogwumike had just six rebounds as no Storm player had more than seven boards.

Skylar Diggins-Smith and Ezi Magbegor combined for just 13 points on 5-20 FG shooting. Jordan Horston was the only bench player to score any points. She had a nice game with nine points on 4-6 FG including one made three-pointer.

“Yeah, usually in our lulls, our defense sustains us. And it wasn't that today. I don't think we were sharp on coverages, some three-point shooters got loose. That hasn't been our norm. I would say that, I think offensively we're trying to attack and do the correct things. This wasn't our day today.” Quinn added.

Minnesota Lynx

If this was NBA Jam Kayla McBride would officially be ON FIRE! Over her past two games against Phoenix and Seattle, McBride has made 15 three-pointers! She’s shooting 65% (15-23 FG) from beyond the arc over her last two games. She followed up her 8-13 three-point FG performance by making 7-10 FG from beyond the arc against Seattle. That might literally be classified as insane. She’s in the zone right now. If she keeps this up she might get called in for a random drug test.

Napheesa Collier continues to impress. She finished with the game’s only double-double of 19 points and 14 rebounds. Bridget Carleton also hit some key three-pointers late in the game and finished with 13 points on 50% (5-10 FG) shooting.

This game came down to three-point shooting and shooting in general. Minnesota outshot Seattle 45% (27-60 FG) to 35% (26-75 FG). But what stood out the most were the shots from deep. The Lynx three-point shooting was incredible at 55% (12-22 FG). Meanwhile, the Storm made just 18% (4-22 FG) from the three-point line.

Coach Quinn praised the Lynx.

“I want to be on record to say in the offseason I thought that Minnesota was going to be an excellent team from the jump, period. I mean they have versatility in their bigs, add in vets like Williams and Smith. Bridget Carleton, I see her all the time in Canada. I know what she can do. So I'm not surprised with how well they started the season and how much better that they are the third time we played them and how much better that they're going to be throughout the season. I'll say that, Cheryl is the GOAT.” Quinn stated.

Game Breakdown

Napheesa Collier split a pair of free throws and then Bridget Carleton knocked down a three-ball to put Minnesota up 4-0 quickly to start the game. Jewell Loyd and Nneka Ogwumike scored for Seattle to quickly tie it up. A Kayla McBride triple and another Collier layup gave Minnesota an early six-point lead at 13-7. Seattle cut the Storm’s deficit to three but McBride knocked down another three-pointer. The Storm closed the first quarter on a 7-2 run as Jordan Horston made a jumper and Loyd hit a three-pointer. After one, Minnesota led 21-20.

Seattle used a 19-8 run in the second quarter to take a 10-point lead at 39-29. Jordan Horston and Skylar Diggins-Smith hit three-pointers during that span. Ezi and Nneka were able to score in the paint and Jewell got to the foul line.

Minnesota made a late run to close out the first half outscoring Seattle 7-2. Collier hit a triple and Courtney Williams got fouled with less than a second to go and made both free throws. Seattle led 41-36 at the midway point.

Alanna Smith made one of two free throws to tie the game at 45-45. Ezi Magbegor got slapped across the arm two to three times and the refs didn’t call anything, then Courtney Williams ran into Ezi and the refs called an offensive foul on Magbegor. Coach Noelle Quinn was so pissed she quickly picked up a technical foul and rightfully so.

Jewell Loyd made a couple of baskets in consecutive possessions, but the Lynx knocked down three-pointers from Kayla McBride and Napheesa Collier. That put Minnesota back on top 52-49. McBride scooped in a shot inside the paint and then hit another three to give Minnesota an eight-point lead at 57-49.

Bridget Carleton scored at the buzzer of the third period to put Minnesota up seven at 59-52. They outscored the Storm 23-11 to completely change the momentum of the game.

Collier scored quickly to begin the fourth quarter to extend their lead to nine. Diggins-Smith scored on the other end. Carleton got the shooter’s touch on a midrange that rolled in. Loyd was able to knock one down for Seattle.

McBride continued to kill Seattle with another three-pointer to put the Lynx up 10. For some reason, Seattle kept losing Kayla McBride during their rotations. Carleton knocked down a corner three to put Minnesota up 11 with under four minutes to play.

Seattle looked rattled and fell apart from there. The Lynx finished the game on a 10-2 run. McBride hit another three-pointer because why not? Alanna Smith and McBride made free throws. Collier hit another jumper.

Minnesota outscored Seattle 24-12 in the final period and 47-23 through the entire second half. In the end, the Lynx conquered the Storm 83-64.

After the game, I spoke with Nneka Ogwumike and Coach Quinn if there was any concern about losing all three games to the Lynx and if there were any mental hurdles to get over if they were to match up again, say in the playoffs.

“When you play a team multiple times there's going to be different iterations. This is like the team that is number one in efficiency and I want to say in transition and pace. You have to be able to respond. You have to be able to make adjustments and sustain it. You know, they're a very talented team and they execute well and they're coached very well. I wouldn't necessarily say there's a mental block. I think it's just, that you have to step up to the challenge each time they're going to, they're going to show up every time. And we have one more opportunity to be able to do that before post-season play.” Ogwumike said.

“11th game of the season. We just have to be better. I have to be better, you know, our preparation. And we know that this league is a league of matchups. And they have our number. Obviously, we've lost the series, as you've pointed out. But at the end of the day, we're not quite where we want to be. It’s the 11th game of the year, we will be better.” Quinn responded.

Final Box Score

Additional Analysis

Seattle’s Three-Point Shooting

As I wrote above the Storm’s (lack of) three-point shooting really hurt them in this game and their inability to properly defend the three. Minnesota earned 24 more points from beyond the arc compared to Seattle.

As I noted just in my last game recap, this season the Storm are struggling to consistently make their three-pointers. Seattle ranks 9th in the WNBA in three-point field goal percentage and just under 31%. By contrast, Minnesota is number one overall at 41%. Seattle is 8th in total three-pointers made with 66. Minnesota ranks second just behind the New York Liberty with 117 triples made. And because New York has played more games, on a per-game basis, the Lynx are number one in the league averaging nearly 11 made three-pointers per contest.

I spoke with both Jewell Loyd and Coach Noelle Quinn about this and if Seattle can do anything to improve their three-point shooting. I thought they gave me an honest and logical answer.

“Our team is different, different personnel. We can neutralize that by getting to the free throw line and finding other ways to score, which we have. We're not going to live or die by a three-point line. That's just not our personnel. But we have some shooters on this squad who can get going and just trying to find ways to get those guys to see a couple go through.” Quinn answered.

“I'm not sure. I think some of it's just catch and shoots, being able to – I mean, we get downhill so much that it's just different. Our ability to set great screens in the middle third allows us to be in the paint. So I think our paint points are way higher than they were last year. So it's kind of give and take. We're able to get downhill, which allows us to get good looks close to the rim. So I think our catch-and-shoot threes could be there, but we're still figuring things out location-wise. But we're going to keep shooting them. We have really good shooters on this team, so they'll eventually come. But I'm happy how we're able to be navigating the middle of the floor.” Loyd responded.

Seattle’s three-point shooting is lacking. With that in mind, I see a lot of the 2020 Las Vegas Aces team in the present-day Seattle Storm. They were not a strong three-point shooting team. In fact, they were dead last in attempts that year. But they were able to dominate in other ways. Namely by out-rebounding their opponents, winning the points in the paint battle, and more often than not winning the free throw battle as well.

Those are Seattle’s strengths this season. Whereas, the 2024 Minnesota Lynx play a lot more like the 2020 version of the Seattle Storm. Where they are a dominant three-point shooting team. They can blow teams out with a barrage of three-pointers.

Despite both teams (Seattle and Vegas) being excellent in the regular season. The Storm dominated that WNBA Finals matchup in 2020 because the Aces simply couldn’t keep up with Seattle’s ability to hit the three. We’re seeing a similar matchup problem between Seattle and Minnesota this year and it’s a concern if these two teams happen to match up during the WNBA playoffs.

Bad Games Happen

While I think it would be dumb to not give credit to the Minnesota Lynx. They are an excellent team with an excellent coach. And I think I’ve written above several reasons why they were better than Seattle again for the third time this season. But I also feel it’s fair to point out that sometimes bad games just happen. Yes, some of that is directly related to what Minnesota does out there on the court against Seattle. But other parts are just bad luck. Maybe some bad calls or a lack of calls. Sometimes, it’s two or three of your reliable star players who can’t buy a basket in a game for whatever reason.

Momentum is legit and we all know basketball is a game of runs. Sometimes when the opposing team’s 5th or 6th player is making all of their shots and your team’s star players can’t make anything, it’s just one of those bad games.

Seattle played well for one half. And then just had two ugly putrid quarters that I’m sure they’d like to have back. Their offense fell apart. Their defense fell apart. And when it did. Minnesota was able to capitalize on nearly every single possession.

Kayla McBride may not make seven out of ten three-pointers in another game all season. But on Sunday she did. Tip your cap to her. She’s been incredible as of late.

Seattle will have to evaluate what went wrong. Where did they get sloppy on defense and in what areas can they better attack Minnesota’s defense the next time they play? For now, toss this one aside and focus on a young Los Angeles Sparks team that has won two games in a row and is quickly building up more confidence by the day.

Up Next

Seattle returns home for just one game before heading back out on the road again. The Storm (7-4) will host the Los Angeles Sparks (4-7) at 7:00 PM PDT on Tuesday, June 11th at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. The Sparks are coming off an exciting 96-92 victory over the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday.

Notes:
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