The Minnesota Lynx somehow fell into the WNBA playoffs’ top seed Tuesday night, even after an absolutely “embarrassing” 96-77 loss to the Indiana Fever. Yeah, you read that right. They clinched the number one spot despite putting up a product that Napheesa Collier herself called “embarrassing,” saying they “should be disappointed and embarrassed about the product that we put on the floor tonight.” It was the Portland Fire’s 90-82 overtime win over the Golden State Valkyries late Tuesday that bailed out the Lynx and secured that top seed.
Miles’ Injury Threatens Playoff Run
While getting the top seed is usually cause for celebration, the big story is what’s going on with star rookie Olivia Miles. Miles, the clear frontrunner for Rookie of the Year all season, was a late scratch for Tuesday’s game due to a left calf injury. She told ESPN it was just a precaution, but fans have to be holding their breath. This isn’t just any rookie; Miles has averaged 19.8 points per game this year. She recently dropped 21 points in the team’s 101-89 win over the Connecticut Sun on Sunday, pushing her season total to 790 points and breaking Caitlin Clark’s rookie scoring record. Clark set the bar at 769 points back in 2024. Miles will attempt to practice Wednesday before her status for the regular season finale is determined. Can the Lynx really make a deep run if she is sidelined? Tuesday night sure made it look tough without her.
A Game to Forget, Almost
That loss to the Fever was a rough one. The Lynx couldn’t get anything going early, falling into their biggest deficit of the season. They trailed by a whopping 29 points briefly before going into halftime down by 23. You just don’t see that from a top team. To their credit, the Lynx showed some fight in the third quarter, opening with an 11-0 run and outscoring the Fever 30-14, cutting the lead to just seven points. But that comeback bid ultimately fell short, with the Fever holding Minnesota to only 13 points in the fourth quarter. Fever star Caitlin Clark led her team with 27 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds, showing why she held that scoring record for a bit.
The Lynx, now at 32-11 on the year, will “run it back” against the Fever on Thursday to close out the regular season. This game doesn’t mean anything for their playoff seeding, which is a relief. But every fan will be watching for any news on Olivia Miles’ calf. Coach Cheryl Reeve has led this team to the postseason in all but two seasons since 2010, winning four titles, with their most recent Finals appearance in 2024. A deep playoff run without their star rookie, however, is going to be an uphill battle, and we all know how crucial a healthy lineup is when the games really matter.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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