The Minnesota Lynx kicked off the 2025 season with two wins. Napheesa Collier picked up right where she left off last season, making a strong statement in the Lynx’s season opener. Courtney Williams, Jessica Shepard, and Alanna Smith have also played well to start the season. All in all, the Lynx look ready to go on another deep playoff run and contend for the championship. Nevertheless, there is still one issue the Lynx must sort out.
The Lynx have gotten off to a rather slow start in both games, only securing their wins in the second half.
After the Lynx’s win over the Los Angeles Sparks, coach Cheryl Reeve said, “For two games, the first half hasn’t been exactly what we needed.”
The Lynx may not be able to afford slow starts against other top teams
In both of the Lynx’s games so far, the score was tight after the first half. Against the Sparks, they led by only one point. The game against the Wings was tied at 46 after the first half. Strong third quarters gave the Lynx advantages that their opponents couldn’t keep up with.
While the Lynx won both games, their slow first halves are still something to keep an eye on. The Wings and Sparks are teams the Lynx are supposed to beat. Dallas and Los Angeles have rosters filled with young players and rookies, new head coaches, and plenty of things to figure out. The Lynx, meanwhile, are a veteran championship contender with lots of roster continuity and one of the strongest teams in the league.
That gave them a clear advantage in their first two games, even after close first halves. However, they cannot afford slow starts against better teams. A slow start against the Liberty, Aces, or Fever, for example, could allow opponents to pull away early and create a deficit the Lynx might struggle to make up rather than just allowing the other team to get close.
So, the Lynx will have to figure out a way to start games with the right energy, scoring at a high level, and smothering opponents with their defense right away. The Lynx’s next two games are against the Dallas Wings and the Connecticut Sun, two teams the Lynx should beat handily, but then the schedule gets more difficult with games against the Seattle Storm and Phoenix Mercury.
Minnesota is still well set up to win a championship
After last season’s heartbreaking Game 5 loss, no team has more motivation to win it all this season than the Minnesota Lynx. The team is in a good position. The coaching staff has experience with this kind of situation, Napheesa Collier looks ready for another MVP-level season, and the Lynx boosted their bench by bringing back Jessica Shepard.
There may still be some issues to sort out early in the season, but the Lynx are still one of the top teams in the WNBA.