Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said one of the silver linings of losing 92-71 to Seattle on Sunday was the players and staff get to return to their families.
However, Reeve said she wouldn't be surprised if point guard Crystal Dangerfield opts for a slightly different destination than home.
"She more than anybody wants to go on an island and just go recover," Reeve said with a smile.
The Lynx put a lot on Dangerfield's plate this season, and she responded with a Rookie of the Year performance while adding inevitable all-rookie team honors to that Sunday — well worth a vacation. She was also, as Reeve said, a "bright spot" amid the 3-0 sweep at the hands of the Storm.
Dangerfield shot 7-for-19 Sunday for 16 points, adding five rebounds and two assists. Dangerfield shot 34% for the playoffs while totaling 15 assists in four games. Reeve said she was impressed with how Dangerfield learned from each game of the postseason.
"The information from Game 1 to Game 2, how she applied it and then Game 2 to Game 3, that's a bright spot for us," Reeve said. "Her evolution and things that she learned and obviously she's got a bright future."
Reeve said there was a lot of pressure on Dangerfield, especially given the pedigree of the matchups the Lynx faced in the postseason. Dangerfield didn't flinch.
"You get to the playoffs and experience success against a really good Phoenix team who has the great Diana Taurasi …" Reeve said. "You climb that mountain, so to speak, and now you're in a series that's very different and Defensive Player of the Year candidate Alysha Clark is going to be on you, so good luck. Everything you do, good luck."
