Natisha Hiedeman’s 18 Point Night Against Phoenix Propels The Minnesota Lynx To 8-0

Natisha Hiedeman’s 18 Point Night Against Phoenix Propels The Minnesota Lynx To 8-0

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by | Jun 3, 2025 | Featured, Minnesota Lynx, WNBA

The Minnesota Lynx have been hotter than a summer’s day right now in the WNBA, and it’s been special to watch. The Lynx were back at home, going against the Phoenix Mercury, who have been rattled with injuries as they’re without Copper/Thomas, but still had the star power of Satou Sabally. The Phoenix Mercury are 5-2 on the young season and have been able to put some quality wins together. They had a tall task ahead of them, as Napheesa Collier has been on a mission trying to get back to the WNBA Finals while adding some hardware.

 

The Phoenix Mercury came out clicking on all cylinders as Satou Sabally was extremely aggressive to start this one out. It was a great sight to see as she was going head-to-head with Napheesa Collier, the DPOY. The Mercury made it a point to get Satou involved, as she was able to score 13 points in the 1st half. Satou was able to get some put-back opportunities and was able to showcase her footwork in the paint. The other player on the Phoenix Mercury who came out of nowhere to surprise the Lynx defense was Lexi Held off the bench, as she was able to shoot 7/14 from the field. Held came into the game and gave the Mercury a spark, finishing with 16 points on the night as the Lynx let her loose on a couple of 3-pointers. The Lynx did a great job of limiting the production of Satou Sabally in the 2nd half as she only scored 2 points. Napheesa Collier was able to show why she’s the reigning defensive player of the year, taking on the challenge. It was a group effort, but Phee was able to really set the tone on how the defense was being played on Satou. The Lynx were able to crowd her and make better rotations in the 2nd half, and it slowed down the Phoenix attack compared to her getting to her spots in the 1st half.

 

Napheesa Collier didn’t have her best scoring output tonight, but she was effective in so many different ways with her rebounding, blocks, and deflections. Some of the things that Napheesa does on a nightly basis on the defensive end have been unheard of, and the Mercury found that out 1st hand. Napheesa finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists tonight. The Lynx squad this year has grown as a unit, and it was on full display tonight as Natisha Hiedeman was able to come off the bench and light Phoenix up all night long. Natisha has been a bright spot off the bench for the Lynx, and she has pure fun when playing out there. Tonight, she finished with 18 points and was able to shake and bake a couple of Mercury defenders whenever she wanted to. Natisha had some high praise for her teammate Alanna Smith, who was able to showcase her 3-point shot and her play-making ability with 6 assists to add to her 13 points. This Lynx team is stacked and on a mission to get back to the WNBA Finals, and next on the list is Dallas on Sunday as they look to go to 9-0 on the season.

 

Jun 3, 2025 No Comments
Collier’s 33 Point Performance Helps The Minnesota Lynx Defeat The Connecticut Sun (76-70) In Huge Comeback Fashion

Collier’s 33 Point Performance Helps The Minnesota Lynx Defeat The Connecticut Sun (76-70) In Huge Comeback Fashion

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by | May 24, 2025 | Featured, Minnesota Lynx, WNBA

The Minnesota Lynx came into this game against the Connecticut Sun on a 3-game winning streak to start the season. The Connecticut Sun, on the other hand, are 0-2 on the season, still looking for their first win. It was a great matchup with Marina Mabrey coming to town to face off against Naphessa Collier. The Connecticut Sun were playing some good defense to start the game off, as the energy on switches was messing with the looks that Minnesota had. The Sun were able to hit their shots, and they took advantage of the paint points with Olivia Nelson-Ododa getting to the rim at will. Marina Mabrey was able to get her shot going, finishing with 22 points, 6 assists, and 8 rebounds. Mabrey was one of the bright spots of the Sun’s night, but she was in foul trouble, and that took a lot of momentum away from their gameplay. Once Mabrey got into foul trouble, it was Haley Peters who added 12 points off the bench to help. Nelson-Ododa was a beast on the boards with 10, but she wasn’t able to make a huge impact once Jessica Shepard/Naphessa Collier got aggressive.

 

Jessica Shepard came into the game and set the tone inside as her 6 rebounds were crucial. Shepard came in and put a body on Nelson-Ododa, making it tough on her for the rest of the night with physicality. Jessica Shepard put her skills on full display in front of the hometown crowd as she was able to finish with 13 points, 4 assists, and 6 rebounds. Shepard came in clutch for Coach Reeve when Alanna Smith left the game with an injury. The luxury of having depth has been beautiful for Minnesota over the last couple of years, and the scary part is that Kayla McBride hasn’t been on the court with the team yet. KMac was in the building as she was watching her teammates come back in the 4th quarter, as they went on an 18-0 run. The Lynx were down by 15 at the point, and it was Napheesa Collier and Natisha Hiedeman who went on a crazy run to get the team back on top. The Lynx were able to force 23 turnovers tonight and showed that when they get stops, they’re a tough team to beat on any night.

 

Naphessa Collier finished the game with 33 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists on the evening. Napheesa Collier put on a show as she was able to get to her spot, and it didn’t matter who was guarding her. Tina Charles tried her best to hold Napheesa all night, but it didn’t happen as MVPhee was in her mode. Napheesa Collier was drawing multiple defenders, but in true Phee fashion, she was able to find the open player, who happened to be Natisha, who was ready for her moment. Courtney Williams/Bridget Carleton shot 2/22 on the night, but Natisha came in clutch with some major buckets when the game was on the line. The Minnesota Lynx were down 15 points and came back to take care of business. This team has been locked in, and the chemistry is at an all-time high right now. The Minnesota Lynx are now 4-0 on the early season, and they’re on pace to make it right back to the Finals if they keep this up. The Sun found out how it is playing against a well-coached team and a team that went into an offseason of togetherness.

 

May 24, 2025 No Comments
Minnesota Lynx Defeat The Dallas Wings (85-81) To Stay Undefeated

Minnesota Lynx Defeat The Dallas Wings (85-81) To Stay Undefeated

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by | May 22, 2025 | Featured, Minnesota Lynx, WNBA

The Minnesota Lynx came into the game on Wednesday night (2-0) in the early season. They were going to be matching up against the Dallas Wings, who have a new look roster including the number 1 pick Paige Bueckers. It was the 1st time that Paige was playing in the WNBA as a professional in her hometown, and she got a lot of love. The Lynx were able to keep some distance throughout the game as Napheesa Collier started getting things going offensively. Napheesa has been special as she has mastered the art of footwork around the paint, and she was a nightmare matchup for the Wings. The Wings threw Hines-Allen at Napheesa, knowing that she was familiar with her game from being on the Lynx last season, but it didn’t work. Napheesa finished with 28 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists on the night. Napheesa went for 20+ points in 3 straight games, and she has been able to will the team on her back. Through 3 games, Napheesa Collier’s averaging 28.3 PPG, and she’s on pace for an MVP season. The Lynx had 27 assists on the night, which has been amazing for them starting the season, but it was the Wings’ defense that made the ending of the game a lot closer than it needed to be because of the 17 turnovers.

 

One thing that was extremely impressive was the dominance in the paint on the rebounds, as Minnesota had 43 total rebounds with 12 offensive rebounds. The rebound battle starts with physicality, and Jesscia Shepard set the tone in the paint with 10 rebounds. Last season, the Lynx needed someone to help with rebounding alongside Phee and Smith, but it seems like Shepard will be that force in the paint. Jessica Shepard gave a lot of energy, and she was able to get them extra opportunities through her hustle. Courtney Williams has been able to get in her point guard bag as she was able to finish the game with 7 assists. The Lynx had 4 players in double digits, which showed a lot of balance in their attack against the Wings.

 

The Wings were swarmed by the Lynx defense in the 1st half, and they were able to limit Bueckers to 12 points. It was Arike Ogunbowale who was able to get her shot off, finishing with 21 points on 8-20 from the field. The Wings had 4 scorers in double digits as well and forced Minnesota into some turnovers, but it wasn’t enough to hold the Lynx off in their home opener.

 

May 22, 2025 No Comments
Butler Era Over in Miami, Where Does He Land?

Butler Era Over in Miami, Where Does He Land?

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by | Feb 5, 2025 | Featured, Minnesota Lynx, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, SR1, WNBA, WWE

Jimmy Butler has been an enigma since he entered the NBA from Maquette in 2011. From the Bulls to the Timberwolves to Philadelphia, and now his tenure in Miami, Butler has experienced success but has also brought drama to every franchise he has played for.

Since signing as a free agent in 2019, Butler, 35,  has taken the Heat to two NBA finals, coming up short in both, but also notched two all-star selections, an All-NBA Second Team selection in 2023, All-NBA Third Team selections in 2020 and 2021, and an NBA steals leader title in 2021. 

Talent has never been Butler’s issue, but he no longer has the locker room in Miami or a desire to be there. He will most certainly be dealt before Thursday’s deadline. The question is who will land him next.

Butler has used his no-trade clause to turn down a trade to join Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in exchange for former all-star Andrew Wiggins and multiple first-round picks. If it were up to Jimmy, he would join Devin Booker on the Phoenix Suns.

This may result in a three-way trade between the Warriors, Heat, and Suns that would get Butler what he wants and send future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant back to Golden State. The main issue is former all-star Bradley Beal’s contract. With him making over $50 million as a player best suited to come off the bench, it is not feasible for any team trying to make a playoff run. Don’t be surprised if a team with a losing record is involved in taking on Beal’s contract and buying him out to facilitate the trade. 

Landing Kevin Durant would help Golden State get themselves into the playoff picture. Miami would get a better return for Butler, setting themselves up better for the future built around Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo. The Suns would be interesting to watch. As they are the last team in the play-in tournament right now, how will rearranging their roster impact their playoff hopes? 

Expect to see Butler in a new city by the weekend and get ready for his trade’s impact on the entire league.

Feb 5, 2025 No Comments
Minnesota Timberwolves Dominate The Los Angeles Lakers On AE Night (109-80)

Minnesota Timberwolves Dominate The Los Angeles Lakers On AE Night (109-80)

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by | Dec 2, 2024 | Featured, Minnesota Lynx, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, SR1, WNBA, WWE

The Minnesota Timberwolves secured a decisive victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, fueled by an exceptional performance from their bench unit. On a night dedicated to celebrating the team’s “AE Night,” the spotlight unexpectedly shifted to Anthony Edwards’ supporting cast. The Timberwolves bench significantly outscored the Lakers, (54-22), showcasing a dominant performance by Naz Reid (15 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (15 points, 4 assists), and Donte DiVincenzo (11 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists). This trio’s impactful contributions highlight the team’s potential for consistent success in the Western Conference.

While Anthony Edwards’ scoring was relatively subdued (8 points), his reduced minutes in the second half underscore the positive impact of his teammates’ elevated performance, effectively sharing the offensive burden. Rudy Gobert’s impactful presence in the paint was also a key factor in the victory. His defensive prowess translated into numerous offensive opportunities, resulting in at least six dunks and final game statistics of 17 points and 12 rebounds. The Lakers’ star players, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, struggled against the Timberwolves’ tenacious defense, shooting a combined 8-of-30 from the field.

 

The Timberwolves’ defensive intensity effectively stifled the Lakers’ offensive production, securing a significant win and extending their winning streak to two games. This performance demonstrates a promising development for the team, suggesting a balanced offensive approach and improved defensive capabilities.

 

The next home game for the Minnesota Timberwolves will be on December 19th as they take on the New York Knicks and Karl-Anthony Towns in his 1st game back in Minnesota since the trade.

 

 

Dec 2, 2024 No Comments
The Minnesota Lynx Defeat New York Liberty (82-80) To Force Game 5 Sunday

The Minnesota Lynx Defeat New York Liberty (82-80) To Force Game 5 Sunday

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by | Oct 19, 2024 | Featured, Minnesota Lynx, WNBA

The Minnesota Lynx were caught off guard by Sabrina Ionescu’s game-winning 3-pointer in Game 3 to give the Liberty the series lead. One thing that we’ve learned about this Minnesota Lynx team is that they’re battle-tested and they believe in each other no matter the situation. Some of that comes from Coach Cheryl Reeve but a lot of that swagger comes from Courtney Williams as well. They were going to need that DAWG in Game 4 if the Lynx wanted to prevent the New York Liberty from celebrating on their court tonight as the WNBA Champions.

 

This game was a true slugfest as both teams came out trying to make the first run but it was extremely tight. The Minnesota Lynx Big 3 of Napheesa Collier, Courtney Williams, and Kayla McBride led the way with a combined 48 points of the 82 points from the team tonight. Napheesa didn’t have one of her scoring nights that she usually does but she impacted the game on the defensive end in a big way. Napheesa is one of the best in the game because when she would get doubled she’s so unsuccessful that she knows when to find her teammates. The Liberty were trying to make sure that Napheesa wasn’t going to beat them tonight but they slept on Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams. Napheesa draws a lot of attention and that helped the team out tonight against New York.

 

Both McBride and Williams were able to hit some big shots throughout the game as the Liberty gave them too much space. Kayla McBride is one of the best shooters in the game and once she sees one of her jumpers go in the basket it’s a long night for the opposing team. Tonight Kayla McBride was the leading scorer on Minnesota with 19 points and she set the tone on both ends as well. A lot of people gave Sabrina Ionescu high praise last game for her big shot making but like Kayla said “She guarded her for 40 minutes”. Kayla held Sabrina to a quiet 10 points as she wasn’t able to get her game going because that defense had her out of rhythm. Minnesota was able to execute whatever the gameplan was tonight for Coach Reeve but they will have to limit Jonquel Jones & Breanna Stewart inside the paint because they missed a lot of easy baskets tonight. Courtney Williams has been a great addition to the Lynx and it was on full display in Game 4 as she was able to get her team involved passing-wise and was able to put them on her back with the smooth mid-range shot.

 

Jonquel finished with 21 points with 8 rebounds as the Lynx don’t have much of a matchup for her in this series but the Lynx have been creating a lot of jumpball situations. The Lynx might be undersized but they have a huge heart and it showed tonight as they battled in front of the home crowd. The other bright spot for New York was the play of Fiebich as she finished with 19 points but was able to make tough shot after shot when Minnesota looked to be pulling away. She’s a rookie but the way she hits big shots looks like she’s been in the league for like 10 years. The Minnesota Lynx were able to pull this game out with Ionescu/Stewart going 10/36 from the field but we know that this won’t be a repeat in New York. The Lynx will need to keep making it tough on the Liberty with deflections and making sure they get out in transition. Both teams know each other’s game well now and it’s going to come down to who wants it more on Sunday.

 

 

 

 

Photo Credit: Abbie Parr

Oct 19, 2024 No Comments