After a disappointing loss to the Seattle Storm on Wednesday, the Lynx went back to practice on Friday to find answers and fix what was broken in their last game. There isn’t any time for the team to hang their heads—a tough test awaits on Sunday as they travel to Las Vegas to take on the Aces.

The approach to practice doesn’t change much after losses compared to after victories, except for a little bit of added intensity.

“Business as usual,” said Danielle Robinson. “It’s a little bit more intense but other than that coach comes in the same way, ready to get after it, help us get better, put us through whatever we need to get through that day to be prepared for the next game.”

Practice was a good one for the most part, but the starting lineup has certainly been seeing a lot of run both in practice and in games. Reeve said she needs her bench to step up a little more to ease the load.

Damiris Dantas returning (she practiced well on Friday) and allowing Steph Talbot to come off the bench, in addition to Lexie Brown breaking out of her slump, should help to ease that pressure a bit. It’s imperative that someone steps up though, in the Lynx’s last game against the Seattle Storm they simply ran out of gas down the stretch and weren’t able to complete a comeback.

“The starters give a lot in practice and we don’t get enough from our reserves,” said head coach Cheryl Reeve. “They give too many reps then they tail off a little. That’s something I have to be more mindful of… I would say overall that we would have more energy if they weren’t so gassed in practice and probably the game as well.”

Injury Update

Dantas has not played since June 25 due to a calf injury but it’s looking like she is extremely close to a return. Reeve said she moved well today it is likely she will be back in the starting lineup on Sunday. Getting the crafty and hot-shooting forward back into the rotation could be an enormous boost to the Lynx, who will be able to use Dantas, Temi Fagbenle and Sylvia Fowles in the frontcourt and return to playing Napheesa Collier more minutes at the three where she has found a lot of success this season. Dantas and Collier worked very well together before Dantas went out and they will look to find that connection again in the games ahead.

“She’s just such a smart basketball player,” said Robinson. “Obviously can shoot the hell out of the ball and facilitate as well at the four position.”

Additionally, Cecilia Zandalasini is back in Minnesota. She is not cleared to play as she works through a high ankle sprain that she played through for much of EuroBasket but having her back in the building and getting eyes on her is a positive development. That being said she is still reasonably far from returning to the court so Lynx fans shouldn’t expect to see her in the coming games.