The Minnesota Lynx and Connecticut Sun are locked in a fierce WNBA playoff semifinal series, with tensions running high both on and off the court. After a physical and tightly contested Game 1, things reportedly escalated beyond the final whistle, as an off-court confrontation added fuel to an already intense matchup.
According to a report by The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Ben Pickman, Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve was unhappy with how the Sun celebrated their narrow 73–70 victory over Minnesota on Sunday. Following the final buzzer, Reeve reportedly confronted Connecticut players near the locker room, leading to security at Target Center intervening to defuse the situation. The specific cause of Reeve’s frustration was not detailed, but the incident highlighted just how intense the emotions are in this playoff battle.
The game itself was a nail-biter, with the Lynx having a chance to tie in the final moments. Minnesota’s star forward Napheesa Collier missed a potential game-tying three-pointer from 24 feet as time expired, sealing the victory for the Sun. After the game, Connecticut’s Alyssa Thomas celebrated exuberantly, sprinting down the court and flexing in triumph, a moment that may have sparked Reeve’s reaction.
Thomas acknowledged the physicality of the series after Game 1. “All season long it’s been a physical series. Every game has come down to the wire in the fourth quarter and we expected nothing less,” she said. “We’re two of the top defensive teams for a reason.”
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The playoff series between these two teams has been defined by intense defense and physical play, with every possession being a hard-fought battle. This was evident once again in Game 2 on Tuesday, where the Lynx responded with a gritty 77–70 win to even the best-of-five series at 1–1.
The intensity carried over from Game 1, with several heated moments throughout the contest. Sun guard Marina Mabrey tripped Lynx guard Bridget Carlton, leading to a flare-up in tensions. Later in the game, Minnesota’s Kayla McBride was hit with a technical foul for taunting Mabrey, underscoring the bad blood brewing between the two teams.
Game 3, held on Friday night, saw the Lynx take control early, building a 14-point lead over Connecticut heading into the fourth quarter. With both teams battling for a critical series advantage, the stakes have only grown higher as the series progresses.
The Lynx-Sun matchup has turned into one of the most heated rivalries of this year’s WNBA playoffs, and it’s clear that emotions are running high on both sides. As the series continues, both teams will need to manage not only the physical toll but also the emotional intensity that’s taken hold in this fierce semifinal showdown.
Whether the on-court battles or off-court confrontations dominate the headlines, one thing is certain: this series is far from over, and the drama will only intensify as these two teams fight for a spot in the WNBA Finals.
