Lynx's offensive collapse could prevent long-awaited return to WNBA Finals

Standing one win away from a trip to the WNBA Finals, the Minnesota Lynx struck fire early from beyond the arch in their game against the Connecticut Sun on Sunday and looked destined for a Game 4 triumph. An abysmal second-half offensive showing changed the tide, however, and will dash their championship dreams if unaddressed.

Led by MVP runner-up Napheesa Collier, Minnesota concluded the 2024 regular season with the WNBA's second-best record and recorded its first 30-win season in the franchise's storied 26-year history.

The Lynx's success this season was fueled in part by their drastic uptick in success on three-point shots. Minnesota led the league in regular-season three-point percentage, connecting on 38% of shots from deep. Just a year prior, the team ranked second-to-last in team three point percentage (32.5%).

Guard Bridget Carleton's breakout year played a key role in the team's success in this category. Carleton made 44.4% of her three-point attempts in 2024, the second-highest rate by a player this season behind Mystics center Stefanie Dolson.

Yet, in the team's most important game of the season so far, it was Carleton who rapidly became a liability. After sinking a 24-foot three-pointer with just over a minute remaining in the first quarter, she missed seven consecutive three-point attempts.

Carleton finished the game 2-of-11 from the field, with every shot coming from beyond the three-point line.

Carleton wasn't alone in her three-point struggles on Sunday, though. After making nine of their 14 first-half three point attempts and boasting a seven-point halftime lead, the Lynx suffered one of the worst second-half shooting collapses imaginable.

Of their 12 attempts from the three-point line in the second half, it was only Carleton's jumper with 2:16 remaining in the fourth quarter that went in.

The Sun took advantage of the Lynx's shooting atrocity and rallied to take a five-point lead entering the fourth quarter and ultimately won the game 92-82. The Lynx's loss tied up the best-of-five series, forcing an elimination game to take place in Minnesota on Tuesday.

In classic coach-speak, 15th-year Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve defended the team's struggles from beyond the arch in a news conference directly following their loss.

"Most of them," Reeve replied when asked how many of the team's three-point shots she liked. "I can't think of a three that I didn't like on Carlton. You know, (Collier) shot it well from there ... so I can't think of a three that we took that I didn't like."

If the Lynx want to compete in their first WNBA championship since 2017, they desperately need to get back on track with landing their three-point shots. If Minnesota fails to correct its Game 4 mistakes by Tuesday, the Sun will cruise to the Finals for the second time in three seasons.