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Credit: Threads<\/p>\nThe Minnesota Lynx will play in Phoenix for Game 3 of the 2025 WNBA Semifinals on Friday. As a result, the seemingly anti-Minnesota feeling about the team among many fans, media and others will continue.<\/p>\n
Credit: Threads<\/p>\n
The Lynx is arguably the WNBA\u2019s most successful franchise, right behind the now-defunct but legendary Houston Comets, the league\u2019s first four-time champion. Minnesota also has four titles to their credit.\u00a0 In recent years, throughout their run, the local W club also has drawn unnecessary resentment for such success on the court from fans, a resentment also shared by some media types.<\/p>\n
This \u201chate the best\u201d mentality has been most evident on social media throughout this season as the Lynx earned the number-one seed for the playoffs and are a favorite to win the \u201925 crown this season. This includes the \u201cPhee vs. A\u2019ja\u201d conjured-up feud between the league\u2019s two stars \u2014\u00a0 Minnesota\u2019s Naphessa Collier and Las Vegas\u2019 A\u2019ja Wilson \u2014 who are among five sistah finalists for MVP with Allisha Gray, Kelsey Mitchell and Alyssa Thomas.<\/p>\n
But in Collier\u2019s case, why the hater-aide? Is it because she is vice-president of the players\u2019 union, Unrivalled co-founder, or her low-key, just-get-the-job-done mentality and on-court demeanor? Or has a combination of all three brought out the worst among some fans on social media?<\/p>\n
Last week, however, Collier\u2019s teammate Alanna Smith became collateral damage after she and Wilson were named co-Defensive Player of the Year, the first time in league history that this happened. Both players garnered 29 votes each from the national voting panel. But this didn\u2019t stop the haters, ignoring the fact that four times in NBA history dual winners of an individual award have been named.<\/p>\n
Also overlooked is that the 6\u20193\u201d Aussie who played at Stanford, was drafted by Phoenix in 2019, and signed as a free agent by Minnesota last season has been a defensive bedrock all season for the Lynx, helping them to a 97.5 defensive rating, tops in the league. And that Smith often effectively guards the opponent\u2019s big in every game.<\/p>\n
Wilson at 6\u20194\u201d is no slouch \u2014 the Aces\u2019 center is considered one of the league\u2019s most dominant two-way players and leads in several offensive and defensive categories.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Shimmy Miller Credit: Threads<\/p>\n
But it\u2019s not always stats that tell the whole story, especially on defense, which evidently the voters saw in their selection of Smith, who follows Collier\u2019s lead and just does her job without fanfare.<\/p>\n
Chicago Sky broadcaster Shimmy Miller deftly avoided the noise and offered us her post-season analysis after the first round completed last week in which three of four closeout games went down to the final shot before a winner was decided.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst of all,\u201d observed Miller, \u201cI love the 1-1-1 format for the first round. It\u2019s made for a more competitive playoff so far. There is no way Seattle would\u2019ve won game 2 without having that home court advantage, and Golden State really used their fan base to almost pull off the upset [against Minnesota].<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was the right move. Not just for the competitive balance of the teams but for the fans that have supported their teams all season long. They deserve the right to have at least one home playoff game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI still don\u2019t think anyone can beat Minnesota in a seven-game series,\u201d continued Miller, \u201cso they continue to be my team to beat. And I\u2019ve been pretty consistent with this all season. They have depth, balanced inside-outside scoring experience, star power, and they can out-score you or win with defense.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cVegas and New York [who lost to Phoenix] showed a lot of vulnerabilities, but I think Indiana upsetting Atlanta was a blessing for the Aces. I think the Fever is a much more favorable matchup for Las Vegas than Atlanta would\u2019ve been.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, I\u2019m predicting a Vegas vs. Minnesota matchup in the Finals,\u201d concluded Miller.<\/p>\n