WNBA: Will the Lynx or Sun meet the Liberty in the Finals?

The top-seeded New York Liberty are waiting. Will the second-seeded Minnesota Lynx or third-seeded Connecticut Sun earn the right to challenge them in the 2024 WNBA Finals?

Game 5 of Lynx-Sun, the first decisive game of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs, kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Oct. 8 at the Target Center in Minneapolis. What do the Lynx need to do to make it back to the Finals for the first time since 2017? How can the Connecticut Sun keep their quest for a first championship alive?

How the Lynx will win

No one believes in Napheesa Collier more than Lynx fans.

Minnesota fans would like to see a MVP performance from Collier in this semifinal series. For the Lynx to succeed, they need the full Collier experience.

Additionally, the Lynx need their key players like Courtney Williams, Bridget Carleton, and Kayla McBride to step up both offensively and defensively to secure a spot in the Finals.

Defensively, the Lynx must focus on keeping the Sun out of the paint and maintaining their aggression to ensure both offensive and defensive success on the court.

How the Sun will win

Offense played a significant role in the Sun’s success in the previous game, with an impressive shooting performance.

However, rather than relying solely on offense, the Sun must focus on tightening their defense to limit the Lynx’s scoring opportunities.

The Sun need to maintain their defensive effectiveness throughout the game and have key players like Ty Harris step up to secure a win and advance to the Finals.

Coach Stephanie White may consider strategic lineup changes to counter the Lynx’s strengths and capitalize on the Sun’s offensive capabilities in the crucial Game 5.