After a week of practices, it’s almost time for the Lynx to take the floor!

For the Lynx’s rookies, Friday’s game is their first opportunity to show what they can do against WNBA competition. There’s a bit of pressure, especially for the rookies fighting to make the team, but they’re not getting ahead of themselves. Mostly it’s about enjoying the moment and doing everything they can to help the team win.

“I think it’s going to be really exciting, we’ve got the fans who always come out and support, we have a new environment, new team, and everybody is super positive on our team,” said Kenisha Bell. “I’m super happy to be here with them and see how it all comes together.”

It’s not about trying to do everything as a rookie, it’s about doing the little things.

“Just work as hard as you can,” said Napheesa Collier. “You’re expected, especially as a rookie, not to come in and score how many points, you’re expected to work as hard as you can, don’t take any possessions off and go after all the little things like rebounds, loose balls, things like that.”

The younger Lynx players are getting a valuable assist from their vets, who have been in their ears, day or night, to help them get up to speed. Danielle Robinson praised the hard work of the rookies, adding that not a day had gone by when she hadn’t gotten texts from players after practice looking for clarification on schemes or plays they had worked on that day.

“They’re trying as hard as they can, working hard and really just digging in. I get at least a text every night from a rookie asking something for a scheme offensively, so they’re definitely bought in,” Robinson said.

Friday night, even though it’s just a preseason game, will be a tough contest. The best part of course will be getting to play in front of the fans again.

“Of course we’re excited to get back in front of our fans,” said Robinson. “The best fans in the W, so looking forward to that, but also just fighting every possession. Coach harps on that every single day. You win the possessions you win the ballgames.”

Starters Take Shape

Though things could change, it looks like the starting lineup for the Lynx will be Robinson and Seimone Augustus at the guard spots, Karima Christmas-Kelly and Damiris Dantas at the forward spots and Sylvia Fowles in the middle.

That lineup won’t mess around on defense and on the boards. If teams start to collapse too much onto Fowles, Cheryl Reeve has options, including moving Christmas-Kelly to the four and bringing in shooting on the wing and adding Lexie Brown into the mix. However, it makes sense that this is how the Lynx want to start games. They’ll be extremely hard to score against.

The Lynx tipoff at 7 p.m. This game will not be broadcast, but we’ll have content for you afterwards on lynxbasketball.com.