Mitchell Hansen
Web Editorial Associate
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The Minnesota Lynx returned to practice on Wednesday afternoon as the hottest team in the WNBA through the first month of the season.
As the Lynx prepare to turn the calendar from May to June, they sit atop the league with an undefeated record of 6-0 and remain the final undefeated team in the WNBA.
But, although they are still undefeated, Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve said the Lynx still haven’t played to the level they know they can. Which should be scary for the rest of the WNBA.
“I like that we are finding ways to win and not necessarily quote ‘playing our best,'” Cheryl Reeve said after practice on Wednesday. “I think we have had games where we’ve played very well, for sure. It’s not going to be every night that you play your best, but I think the nights we’re maybe a little off for whatever reason, we are finding a way and we are coming up with big defensive stops or great execution at the end. Whatever has been needed to get the W, that’s what I’m most pleased about.”
The bulk of improvements Reeve would like to see from her team comes on the defensive side of the ball, as well as transitioning that defense into offense.
“The areas that we have been accustomed to being really good that I want to make sure we get back to is transitioning off our great defense,” Reeve said. “We have one of the best defenses in the league. We’re not getting enough fast break points. That will help our field goal percentage, we have to climb in that area. We can’t put so much pressure on our defense. I think just continuing to maintain our position from the top from a rebounding standpoint and limit our turnovers.”
The Lynx have plenty of time to work on those improvements in the next few weeks. After kicking off the season with six games in just over two weeks, Minnesota will play three games in the next two weeks to begin the month of June.
Sylvia Fowles, who earned her second straight Western Conference Player of the Week honor on Tuesday, said the next few days will be spent getting rest while preparing to kick off play in month number two.
“Coach does a good job in making sure we rest. We’re professionals, we’re used to this. We get in, we take care of our bodies, we get treatment,” Fowles said. “Anything that keeps us going, but keeping the pounding off our legs, helps.”
Next up for Fowles and the Lynx is a matchup against the Seattle Storm at 8 p.m. Saturday in Seattle. That game will be aired on WNBA League Pass and 106.1 BOB FM.