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Olivia Époupa · The list of nitpicks for the Minnesota Lynx — save for a few too many turnovers — wasn’t a particularly long one as they moved to 6-2 behind a balanced, two-way performance. Until those issues could be ironed out, though, Minnesota would have to settle for being amazed by the new wrinkle along their bench, a player who just so happened to specialize in generating those turnovers right back. Tireless in getting the absolute most out of her rare, extended playing time, Olivia Époupa hustles her way into the Dallas Wings’ sidelines out-of-bounds pass attempt, speeding the length of the floor for a steal before sequencing it with an underhand finish immediately thereafter. A defensive nuisance of the highest tier for Dallas’ ballhandlers during their 28-turnover struggle, Époupa earned the opportunity to play the fourth quarter’s entirety, helping guide the game-changing run. Cited postgame by her All-Star teammate as the source of the victory, Époupa packed memories into her 13-minute contribution, providing four points, two assists, four steals (all in the fourth quarter), and a +12 plus-minus on June 2, 2024. · State of Mint