From breakout seasons to battles against the Seattle Storm, good things have often come in pairs for Alanna Smith. But as the ball swung her way, with a chance to help the Minnesota Lynx outduel the same opponent for the second game in a row, she found that triples work just as well. Determined to see her efforts in a grueling, double-overtime affair go rewarded with a victory, the up-and-coming big relocates to the 3-point arc, perfectly positioned to punish Seattle’s decision to double her teammate. Given time to line up the seams, Smith calmly buries a clutch, crowd-igniting 3-pointer, extending the Lynx’s lead to eight with just a minute-and-a-half to play. One season removed from parlaying her added opportunities into a third-place finish in the 2023 Most Improved Player of the Year race, Minnesota’s new do-it-all frontcourt talent has elevated even higher in 2024. In helping the Lynx claw their way to victory on May 17, 2024, Smith was all-encompassing with 16 points, five rebounds, two assists, three steals, six blocks, and two 3-pointers. · May 17, 2024