Well, here it is, a new era for the Minnesota Lynx. Yeah, it felt like a new era when Lindsay Whalen retired. And, when Maya Moore and Seimone Augustus moved on. But, now, with Sylvia Fowles retiring, it’s really the end of an era. Well, Cheryl Reeve remains, but that’s it from the glory years. The transition hasn’t been easy. Of course, the Lynx built their powerhouse with #1 overall draft picks, but that was a long, long time ago. Lacking any such picks for the past 10 years or so, the transition hasn’t been easy. The talent was just not at that kind of level. So, the transition hasn’t been easy.
So, the question is whether 2023 is the year that the transition gets better? That the new era begins to acquire some focus and some force? Well, the answer is maybe. The Lynx and coach Cheryl Reeve seem headed toward being one of the youngest teams in the WNBA. And, so, immediate success? No, probably not. But, a new era? Maybe.
Rookie Diamond Miller, from Maryland, has played one exhibition game with the Lynx as we write this preview, and the Lynx are already her team (and, of course, Cheryl Reeve’s team). Miller did exactly what everybody thought she could and would do in her first game. She led the Lynx with 19 points, she shot 42 percent from the field and she turned it over 5 times. Diamond Miller almost surely will be the Lynx top scorer this year. If she is not, I will be shocked, Cheryl Reeve will be shocked, and the Lynx will be in trouble. Diamond Miller knows one way to play the game, and that is to attack, attack, attack…meaning the rim, the rim, the rim. And if you saw her on TV and maybe at Williams Arena this past year, you that that also means blocked shots against and turnovers. Diamond Miller’s journey in reducing the stuffs and the turnovers while maintaining herself as a scoring threat will to a large extent determine the Lynx’ success in 2023.
Keep in mind that 3 of their double digit scorers from last year are gone–Fowles is retired, Kayla McBride and Moriah Jefferson are gone. Who’s gonna be their leading scorer if not Diamond Miller? Well, guard Aerial Powers (5-11, Michigan State) is a possibility. She scored 14 ppg last year, after all. Lindsay Allen and Tiffany Mitchell also return at the guards, where they scored 7 and 10 ppg, respectively. Rachel Banham also returns at the shooting guard, where she scored 8 ppg last year. That’s 4 pretty decent guards, but on the other hand, which of them is the go-to guard at crunch time? Which one is unstoppable when the game is on the line? No? So, all the more reason that Diamond Miller has to become the new face of the franchise.
And, along with Diamond Miller, it’s entirely possible that rookie Dorka Juhasz will be the starting post. She posted a reasonable 11 points and 10 rebounds in the first pre-season game the other night, but there were no assists and no steals and no blocks. So, yeah, she’s not super athletic, she’s a little bit mechanical, she’ll be a work in progress, but she’s big and tough. The option there is 6-4 Jessica Shepard who scored 8 ppg with 7 rebounds last year, though she’s more of a 4. Upfront, there’s also 6-1 Napheesa Collier from UConn, who scored 7 ppg last year, and 6-1 Bridget Carleton, who scored 4 ppg last year. And 6-3 post Damiris Dantis also returns in the frontcourt after scoring 5 points with 4 boards a year ago. There’s a lot of depth but that and a fiver will get you a cup of coffee.Still, add Diamond Miller and the frontcourt seems to be a solid WNBA B.
The guards? Well, maybe a B, too–better than the frontcourt today, but longer term you have think that Diamond Miller, Dorka Juhasz, Collier, Shepard and Dantas are more of the future of the Lynx than the guards Allen, Banham, Mitchell and Powers. But, which of them will be the superstar who kicks a championship caliber team over the top? Only Diamond Miller has that kind of potential. So, hopefully the Lynx will be improved upon their 5th place 14-22 finish last year but, well, there’s no guarantees. In the short term, leap frogging Vegas or Seattle seems unlikely; Dallas and/or Phoenix, maybe.
I’m hoping for 18-18 and a spot in the playoffs in 2023. In 2024, I’ll say 22-14 and a trip to the semi-finals. In other words, pro-gress!