The Minnesota Lynx are sitting in first place with a dominant 31-9 record, but don’t let those numbers fool you. This team is under more pressure than anyone else in the WNBA playoffs, especially after two seasons of brutal heartbreak where they’ve come up short despite being considered the best team in the league.
The Weight of Playoff History Hangs Heavy
Remember the 2024 Finals? The Lynx absolutely outplayed the New York Liberty and were one bad call away from a championship. Yeah, the Liberty earned that title by taking advantage, but man, that felt like it was stolen from Minnesota. Since then, the Lynx have unfairly developed this reputation for not rising to the occasion in the postseason. As the saying goes, history only remembers the winner, not the wild details of how it all went down. But let me tell you, what happened in 2025? That was just pure, unadulterated bad luck and controversy.
Heartbreak, Injury, and a Star’s Future On The Line
Last year, during a super close Game 3 of the semifinals, the Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas pulled off a steal from Napheesa Collier and got an easy layup. Then, to rub salt in the wound, Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve got hit with a technical. That was a six-point swing that completely sealed Game 3 for Phoenix. And it got worse. Collier got injured on that play and, along with a suspended Reeve, missed Game 4. Just like that, the number one seed Lynx were eliminated, 3-1. While many supported the no-call on Thomas, saying it wasn’t necessarily wrong, Collier’s injury was devastating bad luck. With Collier in the lineup, down 2-1, they absolutely would have had a shot. Instead, after two years of being arguably the best team, they have zero championships to show for it.
Here they are again, first place, and Collier’s back! They proved they could hit the top of the standings even without her, led by Olivia Miles, Natasha Howard, Courtney Williams, and Kayla McBride, all of whom are slated to return next season. But here’s the kicker: Napheesa Collier, or Phee as we call her, is an unrestricted free agent after this season. She’s laid it all on the line for this franchise, and the pressure is absolutely immense to win a title *this year* for her. While the Las Vegas Aces might be the favorite for some because of the mental game, the Lynx’s past failures were more bad luck than folding under pressure. But when you keep coming up short, regardless of the reason, that pressure builds and builds. They should win the title, end of story. This team *needs* it, and Phee deserves it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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