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Veteran Lynx squad ready to rebound after 'haunting' Game 5 loss
MINNEAPOLIS -- More than six months after a fourth championship slipped through their fingers, the Minnesota Lynx still gnash their teeth when going over the Game 5 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on their home floor.
It's a veteran group that has been through just about everything on the court together, from winning titles and gold medals to bowing out in the conference finals. But from coach Cheryl Reeve to former MVP Maya Moore to point guard Lindsay Whalen, all said that loss to the Sparks was easily the toughest of their careers.
"High school, college, pro, everything," Whalen said. "I think that was probably the hardest one. Just the way it ended. You all saw it. How it ended. We've won a lot of great series, a lot of great games over the years. To come out on the other side was definitely difficult."
The Lynx were 4 seconds away from becoming the first repeat champion in the league since 2002 and tying the Houston Comets for the most championships in league history. Sylvia Fowles had blocked Nneka Ogwumike's shot near the rim, but the league MVP was able to grab the rebound and score a putback to lift the Sparks to the victory.
"That was definitely the toughest or top two, other than my college career ending in a loss," said Moore, who hit a jumper with about 15 seconds to play that put the Lynx in front. "This one was tough because we did enough to be champions that year. Both teams clearly were championship groups.
"Sometimes it doesn't go your way and it's a hard one to swallow. I definitely grieved it and was happy that I had space to grieve it."
Reeve typically reviews film of all games quickly, wanting answers to what went right or wrong as soon as possible to help her move forward. This time, it took months for her to work up the gumption to watch it, to re-open the wounds after seeing just how close they were to history after a franchise-record 28 wins in the regular season.
"This group really, really wanted badly the championship last year," Reeve said. "They really wanted to repeat. And we were all on a mission, all season long. ... As a group, the total group, it was something they wanted badly. So to fall short, I can only imagine how it felt for them. For me as their coach, there is tremendous disappointment I couldn't get us over the hump, to get the separation. It will haunt me forever."
If anything, a loss so bitter may embolden a team with aging featured players like 33-year-old Seimone Augustus and 35-year-olds Whalen and Rebekkah Brunson. General manager Roger Griffith and Reeve have constructed a roster that should be able to withstand that. Moore is in her prime at 27 and Fowles is 31, and those two have become the focal points of the offense.
Whalen, Augustus and Brunson have also stayed home during the winter, bypassing lucrative opportunities overseas to give their bodies more time to rest and recover from a grueling 2016 season. They also added Plenette Pierson, a two-time champion, to give their second unit some more depth.
Augustus has dealt with knee issues over the last few seasons, and she decided to pass on an overseas gig this year after consulting with former Timberwolves star Kevin Garnett, who urged her to "listen to her body."
"If you don't listen to KG, I don't know who you're going to listen to," she said.
Despite the loss to the Sparks, the Lynx being their season on Sunday against Chicago as the favorite to win the championship, according to a preseason poll of all 12 WNBA general managers.
"It's time to get back on the court and make some new memories," Moore said. "We gave it everything we had on the court in that amazing series, so it's fitting to have some of that with us. But use it to motivate us."
The Lynx will play this season at the Xcel Energy Center, home to the NHL's Minnesota Wild, in St. Paul while Target Center undergoes significant renovations. And for the first time, every Lynx home game will be televised, either on ESPN or locally on Fox Sports North.
"They have the hunger and they have the passion," Reeve said. "That's a really, really dangerous set of ingredients to have all that, and to have that fire still burn so bright inside of them. That's what makes our group special."
WNBA PREVIEW CAPSULES
A team-by-team look at the WNBA. Teams are listed in predicted order of finish.
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MINNESOTA LYNX
2016: 28-6, 1st place; beat Phoenix 3-0 in semifinals; lost to Los Angeles 3-2 in WNBA Finals.
POWER POLL RANKING: 2nd.
COACH: Cheryl Reeve, 8th season.
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Lindsay Whalen (9.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.8 apg), G Seimone Augustus (11.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.4 apg), F Maya Moore (19.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 4.2 apg), F Rebekkah Brunson (7.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.8 apg), C Sylvia Fowles (13.9 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.8 bpg).
OUTLOOK: Minnesota fell a few seconds short of winning its fourth title in six seasons when the Sparks beat them in five games. The core is still intact with Moore, Whalen, Fowles and Augustus, the Lynx are the favorite to win again. The only issue could be age as four of the starting five are over 30. Most of that core group decided to rest their bodies and not play overseas during the winter which should leave them refreshed and recharged.
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LOS ANGELES SPARKS
2016: 26-8, 2nd place; beat Chicago 3-1 in semifinals; beat Minnesota 3-2 in WNBA Finals.
COACH: Brian Agler, 3rd season.
POWER POLL RANKING: 1st.
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Chelsea Gray (5.9 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 2.2 apg), G Odyssey Sims (14.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 3.9 apg), G Alana Beard (7.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.1 apg), F Nneka Ogwumike (19.7 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 3.1 apg), F Candace Parker (15.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 4.9 apg).
OUTLOOK: The Sparks won their first title in 14 years in dramatic fashion with a putback in Game 5 with 3.1 seconds left. Los Angeles lost guard Kristi Toliver to free agency, but picked up Sims in a deal with Dallas. Ogwumike, Parker and Jantel Lavender give the team the best frontcourt in the league. Overseas schedules weren't kind to the Sparks with Parker, Lavender and Essence Carson all missing the opening game to play in the Turkish League championship. Ogwumike and Beard also didn't show up until virtually the end of camp because of their overseas commitments. With the strong nucleus still together, the Sparks will try and be the first WNBA team to repeat since they did it in 2001-02.
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NEW YORK LIBERTY
2016: 21-13, 3rd place; lost to Phoenix in second round.
COACH: Bill Laimbeer, 5th season.
POWER POLL RANKING: 3rd.
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Brittany Boyd (6.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 3.6 apg), G Epiphanny Prince (5.2 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.7 apg), G Sugar Rodgers (14.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.4 apg), F Tina Charles (21.5 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 3.8 apg), C Kiah Stokes (6.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.4 bpg).
OUTLOOK: New York had a disappointing end to its season with an exit after just one playoff game following a first-round bye, despite having the third-best record in the league. Swin Cash retired and Tanisha Wright is sitting out this season, meaning that the veteran leadership will fall on Charles. The Liberty did add Kia Vaughn and Bria Hartley through a trade which gives the team more depth. A healthy Prince may be the key to see how far New York can go this season.
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WASHINGTON MYSTICS
2016: 13-21, 10th place; missed playoffs.
COACH: Mike Thibault, 4th season.
POWER POLL RANKING: 4th.
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Ivory Latta (8.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.9 apg), G Tayler Hill (15.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.9 apg), G Kristi Toliver (13.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.7 apg), F Emma Meesseman (15.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.3 apg), F Elena Delle Donne (21.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.9 apg).
OUTLOOK: No team made bigger moves in the offseason then the Mystics, who traded for Delle Donne and signed Toliver. Thibault has warned it will take time for this team to come together, but once they do, they certainly will be able to put points on the board. The only question is will they be able to defend anyone. LaToya Sanders was supposed to be the team's rim protector, but she's out for the season with a foot injury.
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SEATTLE STORM
2016: 16-18, 7th place; lost to Atlanta in first round.
COACH: Jenny Boucek, 3rd season.
POWER POLL RANKING: 5th.
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Sue Bird (12.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 5.8 apg), G Jewell Loyd (16.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.4 apg), F Breanna Stewart (18.3 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 3.4 apg), F Alysha Clark (9.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.9 apg), F/C Crystal Langhorne (9.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.4 apg).
OUTLOOK: Stewart had a strong rookie season, helping the Storm reach the playoffs. The team will look to build on that opening round exit. Despite the playoff loss, the Storm played well down the stretch last season, winning seven of their final 10 games after the Olympic break. The team had a relatively quiet offseason, but did add veteran post Carolyn Swords from New York, which gives Seattle another solid post defender.
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PHOENIX MERCURY
2016: 16-18, 8th place; beat Indiana in first round; beat New York in second round; lost to Minnesota 3-0 in semifinals.
COACH: Sandy Brondello, 4th season.
POWER POLL RANKING: 6th.
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Diana Taurasi (17.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.9 apg), G Danielle Robinson (DNP), G Stephanie Talbot (DNP-Rookie), F Camille Little (14.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.7 apg), C Brittney Griner (15.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 4.0 bpg).
OUTLOOK: Taurasi might need name tags to know her teammates. There was a huge roster turnover with Penny Taylor retiring, Candice Dupree getting traded and DeWanna Bonner pregnant. The Mercury did add All-Star guard Robinson and Little. Robinson missed all of last season while recovering from an Achilles injury. The Mercury are coming off a good playoff run where the team won its first two rounds before falling to Minnesota in the semifinals. Taurasi needs just 178 points to pass Tina Thompson as the league's all-time leading scorer.
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DALLAS WINGS
2016: 11-23, 11th place; missed playoffs.
COACH: Fred Williams, 4th season.
POWER POLL RANKING: 9th.
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Skylar Diggins-Smith (13.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 3.4 apg), G, F Aerial Powers (10.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.0 spg), F Glory Johnson (11.3 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 1.3 apg), F Karima Christmas-Kelly (12.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.1 apg); C Courtney Paris (7.7 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.1 apg).
OUTLOOK: The Wings have a solid young core with Diggins, Powers and Johnson and added three first-round picks with Evelyn Akhator, Allisha Gray and Kaela Davis. The question is how quickly this neophyte group grows. They traded leading scorer Odyssey Sims in the offseason to Los Angeles and Plenette Pierson left as a free agent. The Wings showed some promise last season before dropping 11 straight games that crushed their playoff chances.
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CONNECTICUT SUN
2016: 14-20, 9th place; missed playoffs.
COACH: Curt Miller, 2nd season.
POWER POLL RANKING: 11th.
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Alex Bentley (12.9 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.5 apg), G Jasmine Thomas (11.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 5.1 apg), F Lynetta Kizer (9.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 0.6 apg ), F Morgan Tuck (7.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.1 apg), C Jonquel Jones (6.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.1 bpg).
OUTLOOK: The Sun will once again have to play without Chiney Ogwumike, who is sidelined for the season after suffering an Achilles' injury. Miller still has a wealth of young talent, although Rachel Banham and Tuck are coming off injuries. Jones had a stellar winter playing overseas and could be a force in the middle for Connecticut. Danielle Adams was a late addition to the roster and she had a strong preseason. For Connecticut to make the postseason for the first time since 2012, the team will have to get some production out of its young front court.
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INDIANA FEVER
2016: 17-17, 5th place; lost to Phoenix in first round.
COACH: Pokey Chatman, 1st season.
POWER POLL RANKING: 7th.
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Briann January (9.7 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 4.7 apg), G Tiffany Mitchell (8.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.4 apg), F Candice Dupree (11.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.4 apg), F Marissa Coleman (8.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.0 apg), F Erlana Larkins (8.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 0.5 apg).
OUTLOOK: The Fever will have a different look this season as for the first time in 16 years, Tamika Catchings won't be on the court after she retired at the end of last season. Without its franchise player, Indiana will try and keep its streak of 12 consecutive years in the postseason alive. The Fever have a new coach in Pokey Chatman, who spent the past six years leading Chicago. Chatman still does have a veteran core with January and Larkins leading the way. The Fever acquired Dupree in the offseason from Phoenix, providing another scoring threat.
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CHICAGO SKY
2015: 18-16, 4th place; beat Atlanta in second round; lost to Los Angeles 3-1 in semifinals.
COACH: Amber Stocks, 1st season.
POWER POLL RANKING: 10th.
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Courtney Vandersloot (9.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 4.7 apg), G Cappie Pondexter (12.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.7 apg), F Tamera Young (8.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.4 apg) F Stefanie Dolson (9.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.1 apg.), C Imani Boyette (6.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.4 bpg).
OUTLOOK: Stocks walked into a difficult situation as the Sky's star player Elena Delle Donne demanded to be traded. The rookie coach and GM sent the former MVP to Washington for Dolson, Kahleah Copper and the No. 2 pick in the draft that turned out to be Alaina Coates. Even without Delle Donne, the Sky still had a lot of good pieces in place with Vandersloot, Pondexter, Allie Quigley and second-year player Imani Boyette. Don't forget that the Sky advanced to the semifinals without Delle Donne, who was sidelined with a thumb injury.
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ATLANTA DREAM
2016: 17-17, 6th place; beat Seattle in first round; lost to Chicago in second round.
COACH: Michael Cooper, 4th season.
POWER POLL RANKING: 8th.
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Matee Ajavon (5.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.4 apg), G Tiffany Hayes (15.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.4 apg), G Layshia Clarendon (10.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.5 apg), F Elizabeth Williams (11.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.3 bpg), C Sancho Lyttle (7.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.1 spg)
OUTLOOK: Atlanta will have to find a way to replace Angel McCoughtry, who announced she'd sit out this season to rest after playing year-round since she was drafted. Cooper still has a strong core with Hayes, Clarendon and Williams.
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SAN ANTONIO STARS
2016: 7-27, 12th place.
COACH: Vickie Johnson, 1st season.
POWER POLL RANKING: 12th.
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Moriah Jefferson (13.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 4.2 apg), G Kayla McBride (17.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.9 apg), G Kelsey Plum (DNP-Rookie) F Dearica Hamby (9.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.0 apg), F Isabelle Harrison (3.1 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.4 spg)
OUTLOOK: The Stars have nowhere to go but up after finishing in last place in 2016. The team, which has won 15 games combined the last two seasons, has a rookie coach and a rookie guard in Plum, who is the NCAA women's all-time leading scorer. How quickly the team develops will determine if they have a shot at making the playoffs. San Antonio traded Danielle Robinson and used the pick they acquired to draft Nia Coffey fifth. The future definitely looks bright for the Stars. The question is whether the future is now.
