The afternoon was special.
Lynx lose final preseason game to Sky before packed house in Toronto
The first WNBA game ever held in Canada was played before nearly 20,000 fans.
May 13, 2023 at 10:40PM
The Lynx finished their preseason with a game against Chicago on Saturday in Toronto. Played in Scotiabank Arena — which sold out in minutes when tickets were first put on sale — in front of nearly 20,000 fans, it was a nice moment for somebody like Bridget Carleton, the Lynx forward who became the first Canadian to play in the first WNBA game played in Canada.
"The environment was special," said Carleton, who got the start with Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve sitting Napheesa Collier, Jessica Shepard and Lindsay Allen, three players who could start.
But, after the game, after the Lynx had seen an eight-point lead early in the fourth quarter turn into an 82-74 defeat, Reeve was more concerned about the work that has to get done before these two teams play again in Friday night's regular-season opener at Target Center.
"Long way to go," Reeve said. "Long way to go, and, obviously, not enough time. But every coach probably feels that way."
There were some positives:
- After struggling mightily against Chicago's pressure defense while falling behind by seven at the half, the Lynx played better in the second half, especially in the third quarter, which ended with Minnesota up six.
- Again Tiffany Mitchell might have been the best player in a Lynx uniform. She played 34 minutes, again showed her ability to play lead guard as well as off the ball. She scored 19 points, had a team-high six assists with five rebounds.
"She had a heck of a game," Reeve said. "I like what she's doing, in terms of what we're asking of her — playing lead guard and the two as well. She is a player we need to get on the floor. She's been really valuable for us."
- Kayla McBride scored 13 points in her preseason debut. Rachel Banham scored 13 as well. And rookie Taylor Soule scored eight points and again made a handful of impressive hustle plays while trying to make the final roster.
But there were problems, too.
It's understandable that the Lynx would struggle on the boards without Collier and Shepard. Still, Chicago turned 12 offensive rebounds into 22 points.
And the Lynx — particularly in the first half — struggled to finish at the rim, something they will have to do in Friday's opener. Diamond Miller shot only 3-for-13 from the floor.
Kahleah Copper scored 18 points with nine rebounds for Chicago, which also sat key players in Isabell Harrison and Elizabeth Williams.
But the way the Sky finished the game couldn't have made Reeve happy. Up six after three quarters, the Lynx took an eight-point lead on Soule's layup in the first minute of the fourth.
Over the final nine-plus minutes, however, it was 28-12 Chicago. Robyn Parks and Kayana Traylor combined for 22 of those 28 points, with each hitting three of four three-pointers.
"We turned things around [offensively] in the second half," Reeve said. "We got to the free-throw line more than them. It was unfortunate that Traylor and Parks had a three-point party on us."
Now the Lynx have less than a week to get everybody ready, make final roster decisions.
Not enough time.
"We have lots to work on before we open on Friday," Reeve said.
The Star Tribune did not send the author of this article to the game. This was written using a broadcast, interviews and other material.
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