{"id":8,"date":"2026-09-23T00:14:02","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T00:14:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mirandaboen.webhostingforstudents.com\/cis1410\/wp\/?p=8"},"modified":"2026-09-25T05:55:37","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T05:55:37","slug":"lynx-up-playoff-picture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mirandaboen.webhostingforstudents.com\/cis1410\/wp\/lynx-up-playoff-picture\/","title":{"rendered":"Lynx-Up: Playoff Picture"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The doom and gloom surrounding a three-game losing streak over the course of a month (factoring in the FIBA World Cup break, of course) is pervasive, but it speaks to two things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>One: Minnesota Lynx fans are, relatively speaking, pretty spoiled. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Two: Minnesota Lynx fans, as a consequence of being Minnesota sports fans, are always quick to prime themselves for disappointment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s not unreasonable to have concerns, but it&#8217;s not unreasonable to hold on to some optimism, either. If the current scramble for playoff standings is any indication, the WNBA is far from easily predictable &#8212; it&#8217;s still a small enough league to be stacked top-to-bottom with skill, and there&#8217;s always the luck factor to go with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, what does a realistic snapshot of the playoffs look like, anyway?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:35px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color:#fff;display:inline-block;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#a7a7a7;font-size:11px;width:100%;max-width:594px;\"><div style=\"padding:0;margin:0;text-align:left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2287764372\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div><div style=\"overflow:hidden;position:relative;height:0;padding:66.66667% 0 0 0;width:100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/2287764372?et=UC1LhHC-QFhoN89AvKpHWg&amp;tld=com&amp;sig=RuD0wyCh4Pw3QRUSUn8q-ZCyCeyh1j9j_4XOxTAa2us=&amp;caption=true&amp;ver=1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"594\" height=\"396\" style=\"display:inline-block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:35px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Potential Paths<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even with only two days left in the regular season, the final standings are uncertain, making the rush to the ring even less so. I&#8217;ve picked two likely candidates for each round knowing that the whole thing could end up demolished in three days&#8217; time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">(I would vote on the Washington Mystics bringing the wrecking ball.)<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:71px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>First Round (3-Game Series)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-79fb870f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Dallas Wings<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pros: The Lynx swept the regular season series, so it&#8217;s hard to argue that they don&#8217;t have the Wings&#8217; number. Not to mention the Wings are without their best perimeter defender in Azzi Fudd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cons: No one knows what Playoff Paige Bueckers will look like. In such a short series, enough of a Paige takeover can be a threat.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color:#fff;display:inline-block;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#a7a7a7;font-size:11px;width:100%;max-width:594px;\"><div style=\"padding:0;margin:0;text-align:left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2286830770\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div><div style=\"overflow:hidden;position:relative;height:0;padding:66.66667% 0 0 0;width:100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/2286830770?et=FFs5vpMeTXxsJTSulUwv1A&amp;tld=com&amp;sig=u-Z1wgrD1JPksq0g3JB-gY5G83DHSBIJTlaV4OuKqL4=&amp;caption=true&amp;ver=1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"594\" height=\"396\" style=\"display:inline-block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-79fb870f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color:#fff;display:inline-block;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#a7a7a7;font-size:11px;width:100%;max-width:594px;\"><div style=\"padding:0;margin:0;text-align:left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2295819359\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div><div style=\"overflow:hidden;position:relative;height:0;padding:66.66667% 0 0 0;width:100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/2295819359?et=dn6bnCttRaFAJcAO1tUV6Q&amp;tld=com&amp;sig=0mwKXYz9Lt9MMMFmI-1dMUlfuXIHgVvydKEvmMOl9Sw=&amp;caption=true&amp;ver=1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"594\" height=\"396\" style=\"display:inline-block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>New York Liberty<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pros: The Liberty, for all their late-season success, continues to battle a plague of inconsistency. I wouldn&#8217;t count out the value of the bitter taste of a recent loss to a rival as a motivating factor on the Lynx side, either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cons: The Liberty have a few advantages on the Lynx &#8212; size, experience at the point, and Breanna Stewart. When they use those advantages, the Lynx have to be at their best, no question.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Second Round (5-Game Series)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-79fb870f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Indiana Fever<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pros: The red-hot Fever offense needs a break sometimes&#8230; and they take those breaks on defense even if they shouldn&#8217;t. The Lynx are no snooze on the offensive end either, so that&#8217;s a point of advantage every time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cons: The Lynx need some defense to hold the Fever down just enough to stay ahead, and that area has dipped some recently. It&#8217;s also been proven that almost no one can keep Kelsey Mitchell from scoring 20+, so it&#8217;s imperative to lock down Caitlin Clark and Co.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color:#fff;display:inline-block;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#a7a7a7;font-size:11px;width:100%;max-width:594px;\"><div style=\"padding:0;margin:0;text-align:left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2152994192\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div><div style=\"overflow:hidden;position:relative;height:0;padding:66.66667% 0 0 0;width:100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/2152994192?et=meu0PIzoSnJwxhoC9y2DzQ&amp;tld=com&amp;sig=Eo79GT7Eq4MXKmawm0prJdMXcB9AXtwJgy8ATa_0eUU=&amp;caption=true&amp;ver=1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"594\" height=\"396\" style=\"display:inline-block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-79fb870f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color:#fff;display:inline-block;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#a7a7a7;font-size:11px;width:100%;max-width:594px;\"><div style=\"padding:0;margin:0;text-align:left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2293557401\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div><div style=\"overflow:hidden;position:relative;height:0;padding:66.66667% 0 0 0;width:100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/2293557401?et=Id7GkTCaTIl7Ar6kGrYEjQ&amp;tld=com&amp;sig=tYxFr880S-0xqM9YTSrunShb8zRGJal-tLWmGdcbAd4=&amp;caption=true&amp;ver=1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"594\" height=\"396\" style=\"display:inline-block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Atlanta Dream<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pros: Efficiency has been the Dream&#8217;s intermittent struggle all season, and with enough defensive pressure, they could be forced back into that state. Defending Indiana&#8217;s onslaught in round one could also leave them fatigued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cons: The Dream are one of the most effective defense-minded teams on the board &#8212; and speaking of boards, the battle for them is always a challenge with Angel Reese on the floor. Watch out for steals, blocks, and the oft-underrated Jordin Canada.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Finals (7-Game Series)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-79fb870f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Golden State Valkyries<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pros: The cost of the Valkyries&#8217; identity is offensive output; their games are some of the lowest-scoring of the season on both sides of the ball. They have only defeated the Lynx once in their entire existence &#8212; can that defense result in being on the winning side of seven?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cons: If any team can prove the adage that defense wins championships beyond doubt, it&#8217;ll be the Valkyries. The attack is balanced enough for the whole roster to stay fresh despite the effort. It won&#8217;t be easy to break through a team looking to make a strong statement for its own identity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color:#fff;display:inline-block;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#a7a7a7;font-size:11px;width:100%;max-width:594px;\"><div style=\"padding:0;margin:0;text-align:left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2272814381\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div><div style=\"overflow:hidden;position:relative;height:0;padding:66.66667% 0 0 0;width:100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/2272814381?et=PKD24AwFSbtXH72M5dI1cA&amp;tld=com&amp;sig=TAxaCwEFHuJVOifv90yPioTtSjm6dm1Ay2I33gSRNzs=&amp;caption=true&amp;ver=1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"594\" height=\"396\" style=\"display:inline-block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-79fb870f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color:#fff;display:inline-block;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#a7a7a7;font-size:11px;width:100%;max-width:594px;\"><div style=\"padding:0;margin:0;text-align:left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2277217608\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div><div style=\"overflow:hidden;position:relative;height:0;padding:66.66667% 0 0 0;width:100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/2277217608?et=90GexyX-Rut59FL4Xuxv_w&amp;tld=com&amp;sig=uJ1TnsnUAFoh-Tvdokzxqly7qItctirq_JD0rjMRBak=&amp;caption=true&amp;ver=1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"594\" height=\"396\" style=\"display:inline-block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Las Vegas Aces<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pros: It&#8217;s nothing new, but the Aces have trouble with their depth. No longer having NaLyssa Smith as a solid presence in the post means that depth is further challenged, and it is possible &#8212; if difficult &#8212; to grind the Aces down over seven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cons: A&#8217;ja Wilson is the likely soon-to-be five-time MVP, and the backcourt duo of Gray and Young are on an upswing post-World Cup gold. Their strength is their experience and determination, and the challenge is to want it more. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the time of writing, the Lynx are about to take on the Indiana Fever in a regular season two-game series, where some questions may be answered and new ones may come about. The only thing certain: the Lynx aren&#8217;t out of this by a long shot yet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One: Minnesota Lynx fans are, relatively speaking, pretty spoiled. <\/p>\n<p>Two: Minnesota Lynx fans, as a consequence of being Minnesota sports fans, are always quick to prime themselves for disappointment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":34,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5,4],"tags":[6,8,7],"class_list":["post-8","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mn-lynx","category-wnba","tag-basketball","tag-minnesota-lynx","tag-wnba"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mirandaboen.webhostingforstudents.com\/cis1410\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mirandaboen.webhostingforstudents.com\/cis1410\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mirandaboen.webhostingforstudents.com\/cis1410\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mirandaboen.webhostingforstudents.com\/cis1410\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mirandaboen.webhostingforstudents.com\/cis1410\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/mirandaboen.webhostingforstudents.com\/cis1410\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35,"href":"https:\/\/mirandaboen.webhostingforstudents.com\/cis1410\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8\/revisions\/35"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mirandaboen.webhostingforstudents.com\/cis1410\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mirandaboen.webhostingforstudents.com\/cis1410\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mirandaboen.webhostingforstudents.com\/cis1410\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mirandaboen.webhostingforstudents.com\/cis1410\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}