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Myron Medcalf, ESPN writer
MINNEAPOLIS — As fans cheered and high-fived around her, Navisa Collier ran toward the front row and wrapped former Minnesota Lynx star Lindsey Whalen in a bear hug. Afterward, she danced with her teammates while Kool & The Gang’s “Celebration” echoed throughout the Target Center.
Collier added another victory to her blossoming legacy, leading a group of blue-collar talent to the WNBA Finals with Tuesday night’s 88-77 win over the Connecticut Sun in Game 5. The Lynx will face the New York Liberty team for the championship, achieving a major victory. A new chapter for the franchise that dominated the WNBA during a four-title streak from 2011-17 but will be participating in the Finals for the first time since then.
“The fact that we worked so hard and we love each other so much, it makes it even more fun,” said Collier, who finished with 27 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks. “It makes you want to win for them as well. Not only do you want to get that trophy for winning the championship, you want to do it for your teammates as well. I think that makes the journey more fun. We want to keep playing because we want to stay together.” “.
Minneapolis is a city full of young sports stars, but Collier is the queen right now. Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards and Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson are two of the best players in their respective leagues, but only Collier can boast that she led her team to the brink of a championship.
Throughout the playoffs, Collier was fearless. She said in the first round that she wanted to retire Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi, who had been considering the possibility of ending her glittering career throughout the 2024 season. Collier scored 42 points in Game 2 of that series, tying the WNBA postseason record. She also said she plans to challenge A’ja Wilson next season for the MVP award, and now she’ll be competing against a Liberty team that beat Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals.
“She’s skilled,” Sun coach Stephanie White said of Collier. “She has amazing footwork, speed, and balance. She doesn’t rush her. Think about the way she played in college and developed into a point guard, basically. She shoots the 3. She attacks off the rebound. She has great footwork, and she has touch.” Great around the rim, just a combination of everything you want in a player.
As a child, Collier watched Maya Moore and tried to emulate the hometown hero who, like her, grew up in Jefferson City, Missouri, and played at UCLA. But Moore competed against a team full of future Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame athletes, where together they won four WNBA titles. As a result, the jerseys of Moore, Wellen, Rebecca Brunson and Simon Augustus have been retired and hung in the rafters of the Target Centre, a tangible symbol that the Lynx once ran this league.
But Collier, who was selected sixth overall in the 2019 WNBA draft, has established a group that has lacked that collective star power this season. However, the grit, chemistry and versatility of the WNBA’s best three-point shooting staff and No. 2 defensive staff were the key attributes in an unforgettable run to the Finals, and perhaps the most impressive journey of coach Cheryl Reeve’s career.
The Atlanta Dream cut Courtney Williams, who finished 2021 with 24 points, on Tuesday. That same year, the Sun released Bridget Carlton (44.4% from 3 from the line this season) after just four games with the franchise. The Indiana Fever cut Alana Smith (seven points, two blocks in Game 5), who made just one start in the first four years of her WNBA career.
“We didn’t scare anyone,” Reeve said. “I’m not sure anyone at any point in the season said, ‘Yes, they have a real shot at winning the championship,’ other than the people in our corner. And I think we still have to.” Make believers.”
The Lynx got off to a strong start on Tuesday. They took control when Kayla McBride (19 points) hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give Minnesota an 11-point lead late in the first quarter, raising her arms and looking at the crowd, as if to ask, “Didn’t you have fun?” They extended their lead when Williams hit a 3-pointer and fouled Dejonai Carrington late in the second quarter. After making her own free throw to complete the four-point play, the Lynx led 48-30 with 1:59 remaining in the first half.
The Sun had given up 53 points by halftime and entered the break with a 19-point lead, both season-highs for the WNBA’s No. 1 defense.
“I can’t even tell you what happened,” star Dewanna Bonner said. “I think they punched us in the face and we were so shocked. We couldn’t fight back.”
The energetic, fast-paced brand of basketball the Lynx played on Tuesday appears more capable of causing an upset at Barclays Center next week than the Sun’s methodical defensive approach.
However, the task ahead will be unlike anything the Lynx have faced in the playoffs thus far. The Liberty are playing their best basketball, and the Aces had few answers for Brianna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu.
However, with Collier at the helm, odds have mattered little to the Lynx this season. They have a 3-1 record against the Liberty this season, with Collier averaging 17.2 points in those four games.
“It’s really nice to be here, but we have a lot of work to do,” Collier said. “It feels good. I think we’re enjoying the ride. I mean it would be nice to finish (the WNBA Finals) in three (games) and not have to go to five games to stay together.”
Reeve interrupted.
“That’s where you have to cut it,” the coach joked.
But the problem with the playoffs so far is that no team has been able to do that with Collier.
