Lynx likely to shoot more threes, but Sylvia Fowles still focal point

Last season the Lynx took an average of 21.5 three-pointers a game, which put them mid-pack, sixth overall, in the league.

That could change.

Yes, center Sylvia Fowles is back healthy, and Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve noted after practice Monday, as her team prepares for Friday's season opener, that it has to be aware of Fowles' efficiency inside. But the free agent signing of Kayla McBride and Aerial Powers — who hold career three-point marks of 36.7% and 34.3%, respectively — along with returning players would suggest the Lynx would be well-stocked in perimeter shooters. So will they take more threes?

"Well, we shot 30 in the preseason game [a victory over Washington on Saturday]," Reeve said. "So we're off to a good start. I think we'll probably be north of the 21.5 we had last year."

Damiris Dantas led the Lynx with 39 three-pointers in 22 games last season. She shot 43.3% from three, Bridget Carleton shot 45.7% (21-for-46) and Rachel Banham shot 47.2% (25-for-53). Napheesa Collier and Crystal Dangerfield were also proficient.

"Add McBride into it, Collier taking more, yeah, I see it," Reeve said.

Reeve isn't a slave to analytics, so she wasn't ready to set a goal number of threes taken per game; last season Dallas (27.6) led the league in that area. Her only goal on offense is to limit turnovers. "I don't want them overthinking whether to take a three or not," Reeve said.

Last season the Lynx attempted 30 threes in a game only once. Their attempts went up a bit once Fowles was lost to a calf injury; the Lynx tried 18.4 three-pointers when she played, 22.9 when she didn't.

Having more capable long-range shooters will create space for Fowles inside. Another player who figures to benefit is McBride, who was Las Vegas' main three-point threat last season, who will likely get more space, too.

"She'll have to do different things," Reeve said of McBride, who will be a late arrival to the team. "You don't want players who are just three-point shooters. It's OK to shoot more threes than twos. But make sure you're able to score from two, too."

Reeve took a moment Monday to take issue with at least one of several ESPN.com preseason rankings. Namely the one that had Fowles ranked as the WNBA's 16th-best player. Reeve's opinion came on a question of whether the team had a chip on its shoulder.

"I don't think so," she said. "I think right now we're just trying to get it all together. I will point out to Syl that ESPN had this thing that she is the 16th-best player in our league."

Reeve has traditionally used any perceived threat to her team as motivation, which is why she didn't mention having trouble with ESPN giving her team a No. 6 preseason ranking, or that Collier, entering her third season, was ranked as the league's No. 5 player.

Reeve announced the team waived guard Asheika Alexander and center Mikayla Vaughn, trimming the roster to 14 for 12 spots.