Locked On Women’s Basketball: How the Minnesota Lynx can beat the New York Liberty

They discussed Minnesota’s series win over the Connecticut Sun, how the Lynx match up with New York and why Napheesa Collier is such a valuable off-the-floor asset for Minnesota.

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“When you have a bona fide superstar player, one of the best players in the world who carries themselves with the humility that Phee does, that trickles down to the entire roster,” Horstman said. “And I think Cheryl [Reeve] as a coach coaches Phee just as hard and the same way that she coaches Alissa Pili or Olivia Epoupa or players who aren’t getting action in these games, but they are part of the team and part of Lynx culture. And I think this is just a group that really responds to that.”

Horstman also broke down what he’s most focused on seeing from the Lynx heading into Game 1 on Thursday night based on the four matchups between the Lynx and Liberty during the regular season.

“I am looking for how the Lynx defend Jonquel Jones because the common denominator in the Lynx’s wins across the four times they’ve played this year … was limiting Jonquel Jones,” Horstman said. “There’s just so many storylines and so many matchups, but the Lynx have played as a small team all year. And, there’s a reason why Alanna Smith was honored with second team all-defense. … She does so many things when their defense is going well that don’t show up in the box score.”

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