Cheryl Reeve is back in familiar territory. One game to determine whether a title is won or lost.
It’s one of the most dramatic stages in sports, and yet it may be old hat for the Lynx head coach.
She’s been in this spot before — three years in a row, actually, along with one further back in history during her time as an assistant in Detroit.
Minnesota played in six WNBA Finals in seven seasons from 2011-17. Each of the last three all went the distance. Reeve said she doesn’t really think about those past contests, but she does feel “very blessed” to have participated in so many, and she’s thrilled her current players will now get that experience.
But just for old time’s sake, here’s a look at the Lynx’s three previous Game 5 results (Note: Each of Minnesota’s previous Game 5s were played at home, while Sunday’s tilt will be in New York):
2015: Lynx 69, Indiana 52
The skinny: Minnesota won its third title — and the first with Sylvia Fowles on the roster — on the back of a dominant defensive display. Indiana scored 12 points combined between the second and third quarters.
Fowles, who was acquired midseason via trade, led the Lynx with 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Minnesota held the Fever below 36 percent shooting. Current Lynx assistant coach Rebekkah Brunson helped guide the defensive effort while tallying 10 points, 14 rebounds and three steals.
2016: Los Angeles 77, Lynx 76
The skinny: Minnesota trailed by eight with three minutes to play, but rallied to tie the game with just fewer than two minutes to play and actually took the lead on two separate occasions in the final 30 seconds of the contest, doing so for the final time on a Maya Moore jumper with 15 ticks remaining.
But it was for naught, as Nneka Ogwumike scored the game winner with two seconds to play on the second of two putback attempts. Lindsay Whalen’s heave at the buzzer was no good, and the Sparks denied Minnesota’s repeat attempt.
Candace Parker led the Sparks with 28 points and 12 rebounds, while Moore had 23 points and 11 assists.
The game was not without controversy. Ogwumike scored a key bucket with 74 seconds to play in the game on an attempt that looked like it came after the shot clock expired. The officials failed to utilize their right to review the play and wipe away the points. The WNBA later admitted the officiating error.
2017: Lynx 85, Los Angeles 76
The skinny: Minnesota got its revenge on the Sparks a year later, with all five core members of its dynasty, fittingly, showing out. League MVP Sylvia Fowles had 17 points and 20 rebounds. Maya Moore had 18 points and 10 boards. Lindsay Whalen had 17 points and eight assists. Seimone Augustus had 14 points and six dimes, and Brunson had 13 points and eight rebounds.
Minnesota out-boarded the Sparks 46-29. Still, Los Angeles used a late rally to pull within three points in the final minute, only to have its rally effectively ended by a Moore bucket with 26 seconds to play.
Current Lynx reserve wing Cecilia Zandalasini played eight seconds that night.
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