Hitting the Hardwood | Lynx Might Have Deepest Team In Years

Mitchell Hansen
Web Editorial Associate
Twitter

As the Minnesota Lynx look to once again make a deep run during the 2017 season, they might have something on this team that they haven’t had in years: depth.

Since taking over as head coach before the 2010 season, Cheryl Reeve had helped lead the Lynx to three WNBA Championships. But she said this is probably the first time that Minnesota has had the depth that they current have this season.

“I don’t recall trusting nine players,” Reeve said. “In terms of how we feel as a coaching staff, to have nine players that you can count on at any time and you can put them on the floor and good things will happen, it’s probably the first time that we’ve had that.”

In the season opener against the Sky last Sunday, the Lynx had all 11 of their players appear in the game, with nine players getting 10 or more minutes of playing time in that game.

Yes, it is just a one-game sample size, but it also displays the depth that the Lynx have this season. Something that they might not have been able to utilize in previous years.

 

With the bulk of the 2016 WNBA Finals team returning to this year’s team, there are a few new faces that have added to that depth. That includes veteran forward Plenette Pierson and rookies Alexis Jones and Temi Fagbenle.

“They got opportunities because I didn’t want Linsday (Whalen) and Siemone (Augustus) to play 35 minutes,” Reeve said. “This year, it comes down to if you get the opportunity behind Linsday and Siemone and you perform, you stay maybe a little longer. If you don’t, maybe we go a little deeper into the bench.

“We think we have a couple of young players that might carve out some playing time.”

As one of the most experienced and veteran-filled teams in the league, having depth is going to do nothing but help Minnesota as the season progresses.

Lynx Hit The Road This Week 

The Lynx will hit the road for two games this week, playing at the New York Liberty at 6 p.m. on Thursday and at the Dallas Wings at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Minnesota’s first nationally televised game of the season will come in Thursday’s game against the Liberty, being aired on ESPN2. On Saturday, the Lynx will return to Fox Sports North against the Wings.

And, of course, you can always listen to every game on 106.1 BOB FM.