Minnesota has been tested there last five games, taking on the Wings, Valkyries and Aces twice. They've won them all, but they can't let their guard down just yet, as they still have competitive games to play. Tonight, they take on another playoff contender in the Washington Mystics.
However, to make their schedule even harder, they will be playing tonight without Napheesa Collier, as she is resting and Olivia Miles is listed as probable. Not having both of those stars could put them on upset watch tonight.
Who is left on the Minnesota Lynx schedule?
The Lynx have seven games left on their schedule. Of those seven, only one, the Connecticut Sun, isn't currently in the playoffs. Tonight they have to go through the Mystics. Afterwards, they play the Valkyries, Dream and Liberty before playing the Sun. Then, they end their season by playing two back-to-back games against the fiery Fever. So, it's definitely not the way a team would want to end their season.
Minnesota only has seven losses in their season, and they've lost to two teams they have remaining. Surprisingly, they lost to the Sun and less surprisingly is the Dream and Mystics. However, the most recent loss from those was on July 6, when Connecticut got the best of them. The difference is though is that just like the Lynx have really grown, so have the other teams.
The last time they played Washington was on June 24, but a month later, in July, is when that team really started meshing together. In their last 11 games, they have only lost two and it was against the reigning champions, the Aces. Now, they should be a much scarier team, especially after Shakira Austin's Most Improved Player campaign. They can get even more fearful, considering the Lynx might be without Miles and Collier.
The magic number for Minnesota is four right now. If they get four more wins, they clinch the No.1 spot, which isn't bad odds.
Can the Lynx win even without Napheesa Collier and Olivia Miles tonight?
The short answer is yes, but not with the same dominance. The good news is there is a chance Miles plays tonight because she's listed as probable. If that's the case, then Minnesota has proved that they can win without Collier. Before she came back from injury, the team had a 21-6 record and was at the top of the standings. However, her return has made them even better somehow, as they've only lost one game since.
Remember that weird loss against the Sun that the Lynx had? That happened during one of two games that Miles didn't play all year. The only other game was the game before the loss, which was also against the Sun, but that win was by a single point. Since then, Kayla McBride has gotten significantly better and the team has learned more than ever how to put together wins.
They can win some games without these two. But multiple would be a huge feat. Luckily for fans, Collier is out on rest and it doesn't seem like Miles' injury is serious. But, playing without Collier tonight will show some gaps, if any, that Minnesota has.
Besides the Mystics, the two games against the Fever will be the hardest battle for the Lynx as they have similar big threes in Kayla McBride, Collier and Miles and Kelsey Mitchell, Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston.
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