Alexander Shun
Web Editor Associate |@alexpshun
2015 WNBA FINALS | LYNX WIN SERIES 3-2
Minnesota Lynx (69) vs. Indiana Fever (52)
The Minnesota Lynx are the 2015 WNBA Champions. Wait a moment, that’s not right. I meant to say, THE MINNESOTA LYNX ARE 2015 WNBA CHAMPIONS. Much better.
In a decisive game five of the Finals, the Lynx routed the Fever on both sides of the floor, winning 69-52 and laying claim to their third championship in five seasons, a run that many in sports would say makes Minnesota a dynasty. I won’t argue that.
What Minnesota accomplished in their championship runs, specifically this one, is truly incredible. With a consistent string of roster changes while battling injuries to some of their star players and, as head coach Cheryl Reeve noted, many doubters.
With many saying that the fantastic run of guards Lindsay Whalen and Seimone Augustus and forward Rebekkah Brunson nearing its end, the coaches and players used such doubt to fuel their run and push the Lynx to another championship.
As Reeve said, “I think game five tells our story, which is, first and foremost, we didn’t do anything easy.”
All season long, Minnesota was a team that hung their hat on the play of their defense and in their final game of the season, with a championship hanging in the balance, their defense is what fueled them to victory.
The Lynx started slow, shooting just 4-of-12 (33.3 percent) while committing six turnovers in the first quarter. The Lynx received a bit of a scare from the start as guard Lindsay Whalen shuffled back to guard Briann January on a fast-break when she stumbled and seemingly rolled her ankle. Whalen was slow to get up and limped through her team’s next possession before making her way to the Minnesota bench. Whalen was alright and returned in the following quarter. A slow start led to the first ending with a 17-15 Fever lead; Minnesota would respond though.
The Lynx opened the second quarter on an 8-0 run, erasing Indiana’s lead and building a 23-17 lead of their own. That’s pretty much where the scoring stopped for Minnesota; they wouldn’t need much scoring in the quarter though. The Lynx played great defense in the second quarter. Seriously, great defense. The Fever were held to just six points on 1-of-11 (nine percent) shooting as they watched Minnesota build a 27-21 lead at the half; a lead built by four quick points from Augustus and big three-pointer from Moore to get her first points of the game.
Despite the four-point deficit, the Fever were playing great defense as well, forcing the Lynx to two more turnovers in the second bringing Minnesota’s turnover total to eight at halftime. Indiana was also shooting just as well as Minnesota, despite only scoring six points in the quarter. So when the third quarter began, everyone knew that the Fever were ready to make a run and take control of the game. The Lynx however made a run of their own.
Minnesota opened the quarter on a 8-2 run and, much like the second quarter, used their defense to shut Indiana down. The Fever were unable to do anything against Minnesota’s suffocating defense as they could only muster six points on 3-of-12 (25 percent) shooting in the third quarter. The Lynx meanwhile outscored Indiana 21-8 in the quarter and put a stranglehold on the game. The quarter was capped by an impressive play by Montgomery who swiped the ball from Fever guard Shenise Johnson, took it the length of the floor and dropped in the bucket and the buzzer sounded, giving Minnesota an impressive 48-29 lead headed to the fourth. From that point, the rout was on.
Center Sylvia Fowles led Minnesota notching 20 points and 11 rebounds while earning herself WNBA Finals MVP honors.
“I think she’s so important to our team because she’s so different than what we’ve had,” Reeve said. “I think for us being able to have that presence takes the pressure off great players like Lindsay, Seimone and Maya.”
Augustus added 16 points for Minnesota, while All-Star Moore finished with five points, four rebounds and five assists.
The Fever were led by forward Tamika Catchings who finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots, while guard Brianna January was held to 13 points on 6-of-15 shooting in Indiana’s loss.