Late Rally Falls Short As Lynx Lose To Storm

Wednesday night was an interesting one in Target Center. For much of the night it seemed like the Lynx were going to get blown out of the building, but they didn’t quit. Though they ended up falling to the Storm 90-79, there was a lot to be proud of. Minnesota kept competing until the end and for a moment it really felt like they might just pull this one out.

From the opening tip, the Lynx could never really in a rhythm on either end of the court—especially on defense. The Storm shot 54.3 percent from the field and 50 percent from three in the first half. On offense, only Danielle Robinson and Sylvia Fowles were able to get anything going and Minnesota was left searching for answers for much of the half.

However, Minnesota was able to find answers throughout this game by going small on the Storm, who don’t have a ton of size but absolutely killed the Lynx with their speed. In the first half, a lineup of Robinson, Lexie Brown, Steph Talbot, Asia Taylor and Temi Fagbenle brought the Lynx some energy and in the fourth quarter it was Robinson, Odyssey Sims, Brown, Napheesa Collier and Fowles.

That group cut Minnesota’s deficit to one in the fourth quarter with the help of a Target Center crowd that never gave up on their team, but with such a razor-thin margin for error because of the hole the Lynx had dug themselves in, a relatively-brief answer by the Storm was enough to put the game out of reach.

Brown was lights out in this game, a sight for sore eyes after a rough few weeks for her shooting the ball. She finished with 20 points including four three-pointers and was 8-of-11 from the field. While head coach Cheryl Reeve has been reluctant to play three-guard lineups for much of the season, Brown’s play left her no choice but to keep her in next to Minnesota’s starting backcourt.

Brown has been a constant presence on the court after practices and shootarounds over the last few weeks. She put in the work and it finally paid off on Wednesday in a big night. While it is a shame her efforts were for naught, her performance is certainly one to build off of.

In addition to Brown, Robinson brought some good competitive fire and finished with 14 points, 10 assists and five rebounds. Talbot also had her moments with 10 points and five rebounds as Fowles who finished with 16 points and seven rebounds.

Not the result the Lynx wanted but there’s not much time to hang their heads. They fly to Vegas on Sunday to take on the Aces—currently the WNBA’s best team. It’s a long season and though it hurts to take a loss like this on your home court there’s nothing to do but make sure to get the next one.