Lynx blow 19-point lead in 91-90 loss to Atlanta to open WNBA season
MINNEAPOLIS - In the first half of the Lynx's 91-90 season-opening loss to the Atlanta Dream on Saturday, it was the few familiar faces left from last year's No. 1 seed roster lifting a retooled squad to a 15-point halftime lead.
Veteran guards Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams combined for 23 of their collective 32 points in the first half. Williams finished with 14 points, and McBride 18.
But the second half, the Lynx faced foul trouble, especially in a frontcourt already shallowed by injuries, and weathered a five-minute drought without a field goal in the third quarter.
The Dream closed the gap in the third quarter, hung around from there and took their first lead of the game on a jumper by Te-Hina Paopao with 11.3 seconds to play.
The Lynx's No. 2 draft pick Olivia Miles scored 15 of her 21 points in the second half, also finishing with eight assists, three rebounds, two steals and three turnovers.
But All-WNBA guard Allisha Gray, who led Atlanta with 24 points, stuffed Miles on her attempt with 5.5 seconds to play. All five Dream starters finished in double figures, and Atlanta was able to cut the Lynx's halftime lead to one halfway through the third period.
Even after a 13-6 run to end the third quarter, sparked by Miles and rookie post Emma Cechova, the Dream again cut the lead to three with 6:05 to play, with Atlanta outrebounding the Lynx 46-25.
In the Lynx frontcourt, both Natasha Howard and Cechova faced foul trouble, with Cechova picking up a foul with 6:05 to play that put both post players at five personal fouls. Howard fouled out with 4:37 to play, finishing with six points, five rebounds and two assists. Cechova fouled out shortly after.
Angel Reese, making her debut for the Dream after a trade from Chicago this offseason, finished with 11 points (4 for 9), 14 rebounds, three blocks and five turnovers, and also hit five personal fouls with 5:35 to play.
Talk of officiating league-wide in preseason was focused on "freedom of movement" on offense, leading to an uptick in fouls called across the first weekend of season openers. The teams combined for 42 fouls (18 for Atlanta, 24 for the Lynx).
That was far from the only change this offseason. Around McBride and Williams, the Lynx largely retooled after free agency and expansion draft departures. Take, for instance, bringing home Nia Coffey, a Hopkins alum and former Dream forward, for her 10th WNBA season.
In the first half, Coffey's three blocks helped the Lynx lead by as many 19, but the Lynx couldn't hold onto the same defensive edge.
The Lynx next hit the road to face Phoenix on Tuesday, May 12, in a rematch of the playoff series that ended their 2025 title hopes.
Then, they head to Dallas to take on the Wings - including Hopkins' Paige Bueckers, former Lynx players Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard, and a matchup of this year's top two draft picks in Miles and top overall pick Azzi Fudd - on Thursday.
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