First place is still a possibility, but for that to happen, the Liberty would need to go 0-3 for the rest of the season while the Lynx go 3-0. Even if they tied in the standings, the Lynx would win the head-to-head tiebreaker.
The more likely scenario is a battle for the second seed.
In order to secure the No. 2 seed, the Lynx must finish ahead of the Sun, not just tied with them. The Lynx will finish their season at home against Los Angeles, while the Sun will play at Las Vegas, host the Lynx, and finish the season against Chicago.
This Sunday, the Lynx will face the Liberty in New York, a team they have played three times this season. Each team has won one regular-season game at home, and the Lynx also beat the Liberty in the Commissioner’s Cup championship game.
According to Reeve, “Their offense is better than ours in terms of overall ratings. We’ll need to step up and find a way to excel offensively. As the competition gets tougher, our defense will need to work even harder.”
Friday’s victory showcased the classic Lynx style of play, with 25 assists on 33 made baskets. Center Alanna Smith described one particular play in the third quarter as emblematic of the team’s unselfishness and teamwork, where Cecilia Zandalasini passed up a wide-open three-pointer to feed Myisha Hines-Allen for an easy basket.
