Mitchell Hansen
Web Editorial Associate
Twitter
7 p.m., Xcel Energy Center
Where to Watch: Fox Sports North Plus
Where to Listen: 106.1 BOB FM
The Minnesota Lynx look to improve on their undefeated start to the season when they take on the Connecticut Sun on Saturday at Xcel Energy Center.
The Lynx come into the game at 9-0 overall and are the top team in the WNBA. The Sun enter at 4-5 on the season and are in fourth in the Eastern Conference.
Here are a few tidbits ahead of Saturday night’s game:
- In Saturday’s game, the Lynx will be celebrating Pride Night and the first 2,500 fans will receive a pair of thunder sticks.
- The Lynx hold a 2.5 lead over the Washington Mystics for best record in the WNBA. The Mystics currently sit at 7-3.
- Saturday’s game is the third time the Lynx and Sun will have played in the first 10 games of the season.
Coming Off Of…
Minnesota is coming off of a 91-74 win over the Dallas Wings on Sunday in Arlington.
In that game, Sylvia Fowles led all scorers with 30 points and nine rebounds. Maya Moore had 23 points, four rebounds and four assists, Rebekkah Brunson had 13 points, 14 rebounds and four assists, Seimone Augustus had six points, nine assists and five rebounds and Lindsay Whalen had four points, three assists and three rebounds.
Connecticut is coming off of a 96-76 win over the New York Liberty on Wednesday at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Courtney Williams had 22 points and Jonquel Jones had 19 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Sun. Alyssa Thomas had 18 points, six rebounds and five assists, Jasmine Thomas had 14 points and eight assists, Rachel Banham had 11 points and Shekinna Stricklen added nine points.
Last Matchup
Minnesota holds a 2-0 season series advantage over Connecticut this season. The last matchup came on May 26 in Connecticut, with the Lynx winning 82-68.
In that game, Fowles led the way for the Lynx with 20 points and nine rebounds. Brunson had 11 points and eight rebounds, Renee Montgomery had 11 points and four assists, Moore had seven points and 11 rebounds and Jia Perkins added seven points off the bench.
For the Sun, Lynetta Kizer had 12 points, Williams had nine points and five rebounds, Jones and Alex Bentley had seven points each, Morgan Tuck had six points and Stricklen added six points and four rebounds.
Key Matchup: Sylvia Fowles vs. Jonquel Jones
One matchup to keep an eye on Saturday will come in the post between Minnesota’s Sylvia Fowles and Connecticut’s Jonquel Jones.
Fowles is off to one of the best starts in the WNBA this season, averaging 21.9 points (2nd in the WNBA), 10.1 rebounds (2nd in WNBA), two steals (tied for 2nd in WNBA), 1.8 blocks (tied for 2nd in WNBA) and 1.8 assists a game.
Jones is off to a nice start to the season for the Sun, averaging 15 points (15th in WNBA), 12.7 rebounds (1st in WNBA), 1.2 blocks (9th in WNBA) and 1.1 assists.
Injuries
Connecticut: Lynetta Kizer (back) and Morgan Tuck (knee) are questionable. Chiney Ogwumike (Achilles) and Alex Bentley (personal) are out.
Minnesota: No injuries to report.
Projected Starters
Connecticut: PG – J. Thomas, SG – Williams, SF – A. Thomas, PF – Stricklen, C – Jones
Minnesota: PG – Whalen, SG – Augustus, SF – Moore, PF – Brunson, C – Fowles