The Lynx suffered a surprise loss last week against the Los Angeles Sparks, in a game which Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve described as “every player playing badly at every position.” While that defeat ended their 10-game win streak, it wasn’t enough to knock the league leaders off the top of the standings, and they bounced back by beating the Aces and the Wings, becoming the first team to qualify for the playoffs.

Although the Lynx exited the playoffs after losing their semifinal series to the Mercury, this year the ESPN W WNBA Countdown panel believes they are the strongest contenders.

“This is a team that truly, when you talk about contenders, they have to be at the very, very top,” Elle Duncan said on August 9, ahead of the Sparks vs. Valkyries tipoff.

“Observing them, they look like a team with no weaknesses. No weaknesses. The only team in the WNBA, top two in both offense and defense. And Olivia Miles is the head of the snake, and she makes everyone better. She makes everyone else’s job so much easier. K-Mac (Kayla McBride) is getting those shots because Olivia Miles has the IQ to make sure you continue to find her,” added Chiney Ogwumike.

“And look at the shot chart here, 43-point career-high WNBA record, 10 made threes. And so I’m impressed by her. I’m impressed by Natasha Howard. I know it was a quieter game from Courtney Williams, but they have threats at every level. And the threats are committed to playing defense as well, which is why I feel like this is the year for them to win.”

“It’s effortless for them, and that, to me, is dangerous for everyone else.”

The Lynx do indeed have the second-best offensive rating in the league, at 114.1, closely behind Indiana’s 114.6. They also have the third-best defensive rating, at 103.3, as per WNBA advanced stats. They don’t allow their opponents to benefit from their mistakes, having an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.69, the third-best in the league.

They are not just getting on the board; they are doing it quite efficiently as well. They have a TS% (True Shooting Percentage) of 58.6, the fourth-best in the league. 

On paper, this might be the year the Lynx can finally land silverware, having last won the title in 2017.

McBride gives them an elite threat from beyond the arc while also making an impact defensively, and rookie Olivia Miles has quickly established herself as a dangerous scorer and gifted facilitator. The partnership between the two has been particularly eye-catching, with McBride even making sure to give the rookie her flowers.

“The last time I played with a true point guard it was Courtney Vandersloot, and it was some of the best, most fun basketball I played. It’s not that I haven’t had amazing moments with Court, but it’s just something about playing with a true PG that’s just, you know, you get that ball with the laces and that velocity, it’s just like, oh, kid in a candy store truly. So I’m very grateful for that,” McBride said, per reporter Andrew Dukowitz.

Napheesa Collier’s return gives the Lynx another reliable scorer and a force in the paint, while Natasha Howard and Courtney Williams bring even more versatility to the mix. Put it all together, and Minnesota has weapons all over the floor, making this a team that can beat you in more ways than one.

The road ahead won’t be easy, though. Minnesota will spend the next four games on the road before taking a short two-week break for the World Cup. And the schedule certainly doesn’t do them any favors, with the Lynx set to face the Portland Fire, Las Vegas Aces, Golden State Valkyries and Washington Mystics.

Three of those four teams are currently in playoff spots, while the fourth is battling for the final seed.

But if there’s one team capable of coming through this brutal stretch unscathed, it’s the 27-7 Lynx. However, even they have a few issues to iron out if they want to navigate this stretch without a stumble.

Minnesota Lynx lack bench depth and struggle against physical teams

Almost everything is in sync as far as the Lynx’s main squad is concerned. They now have Napheesa Collier back, which makes them even stronger.

The Lynx’s starting lineup, generally featuring Olivia Miles, Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride, Natasha Howard, and Napheesa Collier, is a well-oiled machine. 

However, their roster depth is a major concern. Injuries to Napheesa Collier, Dorka Juhasz, and Emma Cechova at various points during this season have made them rely heavily on their starters for production. A single injury to a core player could severely compromise the entire rotation.

Minnesota also struggles with defensive rebounding. Their lack of elite frontcourt size makes it difficult to consistently secure defensive rebounds after opponents’ first shots.

“46 points in the paint. Literally, a team can get whatever they want on us… That’s what I watch for 40 minutes,” said head coach Cheryl Reeve while saying that they need to focus on “player-led defense” if they want to iron out the kinks.

That being said, even though the Minnesota Lynx have lost seven games so far this season, they have avenged six of those losses already, never losing to the same team twice. In fact, the Los Angeles Sparks have been the only team who have been able to solve the Lynx puzzle after losing their first encounter of the season against the league leaders.

The Lynx won’t want a repeat of what happened against the Sparks, especially with the postseason drawing closer. They’ll have to be sharp from the opening tip when they take on Portland on August 12, with every game carrying more weight at this stage of the season.