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Why the Lynx can still turn their season around: WNBA Film Room

Sylvia Fowles is averaging a near double-double for the Lynx so far this season. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

We’re about a week and a half into the 2022 WNBA season, and while it is still early, we learned a lot from game action over the past week.

The 3-1 Las Vegas Aces are rolling offensively, leading the league in scoring at 91 points per game. The Washington Mystics handed the Aces their first loss of the season and have looked like a championship contender so far, even with Natasha Cloud missing the last two games due to COVID-19 protocol.

Rhyne Howard and the WNBA rookie class continue to put on a show, and the New York Liberty have a few areas of concern that need to be addressed. Here are my thoughts after the past week in the WNBA.

Making sense of the Minnesota Lynx

I wrote last week that it was far too early to hit the panic button on the Lynx. And despite the dramatic changes they’ve made to the roster and their 0-4 start to the season, I’m already starting to feel better about the direction of the team.

Last week, the Lynx agreed to a contract buyout with Angel McCoughtry and mutually parted ways with Odyssey Sims due to personal reasons. The next day, the Lynx signed guards Moriah Jefferson and Evina Westbrook to season-long deals. They also released the hardship contracts of Rennia Davis, Yvonne Turner and Nikolina Millic, only to announce that two of the three had re-signed the next day — a transactional process required when dealing with hardships. Minnesota wanted to part ways with Davis, and needed to release all three to make that possible.

Some saw the roster moves and predicted the Lynx might be tanking, but I don’t believe that’s the case for two reasons. One, every transaction the team made had something to do with a player’s injury or inability to perform at 100 percent. Two, it would be shocking for head coach and GM Cheryl Reeve to tank Sylvia Fowles’ last season. Minnesota still has a chance to be competitive this season, and while maybe not to this extent, the early-season challenges were expected based on the make-up of the current roster.

In need of reinforcements, the Lynx activated Kayla McBride on Monday after she returned late from her overseas season with Fenerbahce in Turkey, simultaneously releasing Turner from her hardship contract to make room. McBride is listed as available for Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Sparks. If Damiris Dantas gets healthy and Aerial Powers produces more consistently, the Lynx should be right back in the mix.

Based on their performance against the Chicago Sky on Saturday in an 82-78 loss, I am encouraged that things are looking up in Minnesota.

A generational talent?

Rhyne Howard scored a career-high 33 points in the Dream’s win over the Indiana Fever on Sunday, the most of any WNBA player so far this season. Her performance included 17 of Atlanta’s 21 first-quarter points. The rookie is now fourth in the league in scoring, averaging 20.8 points per game for the 3-1 Dream.

Below is Howard’s shot chart from the first quarter of Sunday’s game:

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Howard’s offensive skill set and scoring ability are undeniable. It’s how quickly and seamlessly her game has translated to the WNBA that is most impressive. Howard has not skipped a beat from her career at Kentucky, playing with a level of confidence that is putting her in elite historical company and making the Dream the talk of the season so far.

In the example shown below from the game against the Fever, the Dream are set up in a 1-4 high, dump-down look. The team can take a number of different approaches out of this action, but what makes the play so effective is the Dream’s ability to sell their fakes.

When Erica Wheeler dumps the ball down to Cheyenne Parker, she cuts down to the opposite short corner. Nia Coffey turns and appears to want to pin down for Wheeler, but she instead pins Howard’s mark. Howard does a great job of timing this up, waiting for her defender to hesitate briefly as the help on Wheeler. That short pause and screening action provide just enough space for Howard to get her shot off.

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In the clip below, we see the Dream exposing Indiana’s scramble defense and sharing the basketball with an extra pass.

The Fever miscommunicated on how to play the high-ball screen, which forced them to scramble — or X out — to defend the shooters. Kristy Wallace had a good look at the basket, but she decided to swing it once more to a wide-open Howard in the corner. This is a great example of passing up a good shot for an even better one.

What’s up with the …

New York Liberty

The Liberty played four games in nine days, dropping the last three after winning their season opener against the Connecticut Sun. With a new, high-profile coach and top talent, expectations for the 1-3 Liberty are higher than they’ve been in years, but this week reminded us that the team is still a work in progress. Two of their most glaring areas of concern early on have been rebounding and scoring.

The Liberty are currently last in the league on the boards, pulling down just 28.9 rebounds per game and getting out-rebounded by their opponents in every game so far. In no game was this more evident than in their 92-85 overtime loss to the Indiana Fever on Friday, when they were manhandled on the glass, 57-33, and allowed 17 second-chance points. Those were extra possessions New York could not afford to give up in such a close game.

The Liberty are also averaging a league-worst 72 points per game. Their offensive struggles were on full display in an 83-50 loss to the Sky last week. New York shot just 33 percent from the floor and 13 percent from the 3-point line, with Han Xu the only Liberty player to reach double figures that night.

In their overtime loss to the Fever, the Liberty had three players in double figures, but their third-leading scorer, Natasha Howard, went just 1-for-15 from the floor. Those are rough numbers for anyone, let alone your starting post player in such a close contest. New York has to find a way to get more consistent production from its offense, starting with trips to the free-throw line and second-chance opportunities.

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Howard did bounce back with an efficient 14-point performance in a loss to the Wings on Sunday. Betnijah Laney has also looked a lot more comfortable offensively in the Liberty’s last two games. Sabrina Ionescu leads the team in scoring with 18.8 points per game, and the anticipated return of Rebecca Allen will give this team a veteran leader and poised outside shooter.

Another bright spot for New York has been the impressive play of Han Xu. In 12 minutes per game across two games, the 6-foot-10 center is averaging 10 points, good for fourth on the team. Her 64 percent field-goal percentage currently leads the team, and she’s also 2-for-3 from beyond the arc. While the 22-year-old continues to adjust to the physicality of the WNBA, her instincts, mobility and efficiency bode well for the Liberty as they look for answers on offense.

In the following clip from Sunday’s game, Han catches Wings center Teaira McCowan dropping a little too low in help and takes advantage of her height and quick release. Han does not need a lot of space for her shot because she can create it with her length. WNBA teams will certainly be adding this to their scouting reports on her moving forward.

Week 2 Power Rankings

  1. Washington Mystics (3-1)
  2. Las Vegas Aces (3-1)
  3. Chicago Sky (2-1)
  4. Connecticut Sun (1-1)
  5. Atlanta Dream (3-1)
  6. Phoenix Mercury (2-1)
  7. Dallas Wings (2-1)
  8. Los Angeles Sparks (2-2)
  9. Seattle Storm (1-3)
  10. Indiana Fever (2-3)
  11. New York Liberty (1-3)
  12. Minnesota Lynx (0-4)

Rachel Galligan is a basketball analyst at Just Women’s Sports. A former professional basketball player and collegiate coach, she also contributes to Winsidr. Follow Rachel on Twitter @RachGall.

Christen Press back training with Angel City FC

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 15: Christen Press #23 of Angel City FC waves to fans following a game between the Portland Thorns and Angel City FC at BMO Stadium on October 15, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)

Christen Press continues to inch her way back to a return, having returned to training with her club team Angel City. 

Angel City FC coach Becki Tweed said on Wednesday that Press is back with the team full-time as she continues to make her way back from an ACL injury. While she’s still working on rehab, her being back with the team gives staff a better picture of her progress. 

"Christen [Press] is back with us full time which is amazing,” she said. “Having her in and around the team every day, continuing to work hard on rehab ... she's in a space where being in with the team is really important to her and her progression as well.”

The status update comes days after Press posted videos to social media that featured her doing lateral movement in cleats on grass. 

“Look out world she’s on the move !” Press captioned it. 

Press has been sidelined with an ACL injury since 2022, which caused her to miss the 2023 World Cup. She’s since had four separate surgeries to help repair her ACL.

Press told The Athletic a month ago that she’s been “relentless” in her optimism with her recovery despite it being a “slow process.”

“I have a bit of relentless optimism,” she told The Athletic. “I never, ever doubted that I would make it back on any of the timelines I’ve been on."

"Every single time I’ve heard, ‘You have to have surgery,’ I’m completely shocked,” she said. “When somebody asks me how it’s going, I’m like, ‘It’s going great. And it was going great every time. So I don’t know what to tell you anymore!’”

Sophia Smith re-signs with Portland on record deal

(Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports)

Sophia Smith is now the NWSL’s highest-paid player. 

The Portland Thorns announced on Wednesday that they have signed Smith to a new contract through the 2025 season, with an option for 2026. While the terms of the deal were not disclosed, the team did reveal that Smith is now the highest-paid player in the league on an annual basis.

It’s the latest in what has been a series of record-breaking contracts in the NWSL offseason. 

Chicago Red Stars forward Mallory Swanson, Bay FC forward Racheal Kundananji, and Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda all signed multi-year deals worth between $2 million and $2.5 million in total. While Smith’s contract is shorter and not worth as much over the long-term, the annual worth is higher. 

“We are over the moon to have Soph commit again to the Thorns. She is a proven, world-class talent and one that we are excited to have contribute to the team’s continued success,” said head coach Mike Norris in a statement. “We look forward to working with her in a Thorns jersey as she continues to shine as one of the top strikers in the world.”

In just four seasons in the NWSL, Smith has led the Thorns to five trophies – including the 2022 NWSL championship – while winning league and championship MVP in 2022. In 61 appearances with Portland, she has 34 goals – including a brace to start this season against Kansas City. 

She’s also a member of the USWNT, having scored 16 goals in 44 international appearances.  Set to become a free agent at the end of this season, she told ESPN she “thought of all the options” but ultimately Portland felt like the right decision.

"There is no place like Portland," Smith said in a small roundtable interview that included ESPN. "I don't believe there's an environment like Portland to play in and it's a city that's so special to me and a city that I feel like I've grown up in almost and become who I am."

She also told ESPN that the team’s new ownership “changes everything.” The club is now led by the Bhathal family, who bought the club after Merritt Paulson was forced to sell it following his part in the NWSL’s abuse scandal. 

"Since I've been here there has been a lot of things going on with this club -- a lot of not-great things going on with this club -- and I have just been waiting for some stability and some reassurance that this club is headed in the right direction, and the Bhathal family coming in is doing exactly that, if not more,” Smith said. 

"Their vision for this club is so exciting, and you can just tell how passionate they are about making this what it should be and continuing to push the standard in women's soccer globally.”

Caitlin Clark offered $5 million to compete in Ice Cube’s league

IOWA CITY, IOWA- MARCH 25: Guard Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates as time runs out in the second half against the West Virginia Mountaineers during their second round match-up in the 2024 NCAA Division 1 Women's Basketball Championship at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 25, 2024 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)

Caitlin Clark has been offered $5 million to play in Ice Cube's Big3 league, he confirmed on social media Wednesday after the offer leaked.

"We intended the offer to remain private while Caitlin Clark plays for the championship," Ice Cube wrote on social media. "But I won't deny what's now already out there: BIG3 made a historic offer to Caitlin Clark. Why wouldn't we? Caitlin is a generational athlete who can achieve tremendous success in the BIG3."

While there has yet to be a women's player in the league, both Nancy Lieberman and Lisa Leslie have been part of the league as coaches and won championships.

"The skeptics laughed when we made Nancy Lieberman the first female coach of a men's pro team, and she won the championship in her first year," Ice Cube continued. "Then Lisa Leslie won it all in year two. With our offer, Caitlin Clark can make history and break down even more barriers for women athletes."

Ice Cube, whose name is O’Shea Jackson, says that the offer was made with the intention that Clark be able to compete in the WNBA “offseason.” Clark is largely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft in April. But it’s unclear how the scheduling of the two leagues would work. 

The 2024 Big3 season is set to tip off on June 15, with 10 games spanning through mid-August. The WNBA regular season, meanwhile, begins on May 14 and ends on Sept. 19.

On “The Pat McAfee Show” on Wednesday, Jackson said that the league has yet to hear back from Clark. 

“We just need an answer, as soon as they are ready to give it to us,” he said. “It’s always 50-50 till we get a no. At the end of the day, it’s a generous offer.”

The offer – as well as the confusion on Jackson’s part about the timing of the WNBA season – caused some current WNBA players to react. 

"It's funny cause I be seeing his son at W games.. they don't talk?" wrote former No. 1 pick Rhyne Howard

"So no other women's basketball player has came to mind in the last 7 years?" wrote Lexie Brown, adding that she'd support if Ice Cube wanted to build a women's iteration of the league. She later discussed it on the Gils Arena Show, noting that his reasoning of wanting to “uplift and support WNBA players and women athletes” is a “cop out.”

Kalani Brown, meanwhile, told Clark to "take that money" and start a women's Big3.

WNBA salaries has been a talking point in recent months as more collegiate stars declare for the league. WNBA stars have often made more money playing abroad than they have in the WNBA. Clark is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft on April 15, with a rookie salary of $76,535 for lottery draft picks (Nos. 1-4) that rises to $97,582 by her fourth season. But she also has an NIL valuation of almost $3.5 million.

Diana Taurasi famously skipped the 2015 WNBA season at the request of her Russian club, who paid her more to sit out than she would have made in the W. Her contract with the club was reportedly near $1.5 million per year.

Jackson also seemed to suggest that his league could be an alternative to going abroad

“America’s women athletes should not be forced to spend their off seasons playing in often dismal and dubious foreign countries just to make ends meet,” he wrote. Although it’s unclear whether or not the rapper intends to make offers to additional WNBA players. 

While the league does hold prioritization rules in its CBA, those typically apply only to players playing in overseas leagues. It’s unclear whether or not that would prevent Clark’s participation in the Big3 league.

WNBA players that don’t want to go overseas currently have the option of playing in Athletes Unlimited, which competes in the WNBA offseason.

USC’s Aaliyah Gayles Opens Up About Her Journey Back to Basketball

USC Basketball - Aaliyah Gayles

As part of our 1-v-1 video series, USC’s India Otto sat down to interview her teammate Aaliyah Gayles. Here are five things to know from our conversation with the redshirt freshman guard from Las Vegas.

#1 Aaliyah suffered from a near-death act of violence in 2022.

The incident taught her a lot about herself and the support around her. “[USC] Coach Lindsay [Gottlieb] was one of the first people to fly out there and come see me. That means a lot to me off the court.” 

#2 Her favorite USC memory is when she surprised her teammates after getting out of the hospital.

She left her walker at the door to show she was on the road to returning to the court. “That was my favorite memory because it was family. It was my first time being able to walk to you guys and see you practice.”

#3 There's a reason she wears #3.

#3 was her grandpa’s favorite number and a golden number in her life. Plus, AG3 has a nice ring to it. 

#4 She has a list of basketball GOAT’s:

Candace Parker, Magic Johnson, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, and Cason Wallace.

#5 There have been many celebrity appearances at USC’s games over the years, especially this season.

Aaliyah’s favorites include Will Ferrell, Kehlani, and Saweetie. And she hopes Lil Durk will come to watch a game soon.

Watch the full conversation on the Just Women’s Sports YouTube channel.

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