Rediscovering her trademark blend of efficiency and intensity with the series knotted at a game apiece, Napheesa Collier found the moves necessary to put Game Two’s shooting struggles — and any defender in her path — firmly in the rearview mirror. Keeping active within the Minnesota Lynx’s five-out offensive set, Collier eventually finds the ball, but with Defensive Player of the Year finalist DiJonai Carrington prepared to mirror her move-for-move. A master in the art of no wasted dribbles, Collier utilizes a deceptive pump-fake before taking the Connecticut Sun star through a whirlwind with a blur-quick spin move, opening her lane for a smooth finish that banks off glass. The and-one bucket helped solidify Minnesota’s iron grip on the early-game momentum through a double-digit edge in the second quarter. Taking pages from Connecticut’s offensive book to incorporate into their own, Minnesota overwhelmed the opposition with 48 paint points, working cuts and fearless finishes to steer control of the series with a Game Three win. Collier, rounded into Most Valuable Player runner-up form, was extraordinary with 26 points (on 11-of-19 shooting), 11 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block. · Oct 4, 2024