It’s been 615 days, but finally…

The Minnesota Lynx are home.

For the first time since beating the Indiana Fever on September 1, 2019, the Lynx return to Target Center Saturday afternoon for their only official preseason contest of 2021 versus the Washington Mystics.

The green pregame smoothies and all, Head Coach and General Manager Cheryl Reeve is happy to get back into her gameday routine after spending all of the 2020 season in a campus environment in Bradneton, Fla. due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I missed the smoothies… We haven’t played in Target Center since 2019, so I think there’s a real excitement,” Reeve told media on Friday. “I know for me, I’m super excited about it, so I imagine [players] are as well. Playing a game, it’s important for us, but I think being at Target Center is that first step of being back.”

Family and friends will be allowed in the venue to support the Lynx in Saturday’s exhibition. The cheers will be a departure from the relative silence experienced in Bradenton last season.

“Just having fans for the first time — the bubble was just all team personnel and the table crew, and [ESPN reporter] Holly Rowe — it’ll be different to actually have people there watching,” Reeve said.

“I know [the players] are excited about that.”

Tipoff between the Lynx and Mystics is set for 1PM Central at Target Center. Follow the @minnesotalynx social media handles for live coverage.