Sports USA: The WNBA regular season continues to prove to be a wild, unpredictable war of attrition. Throughout the first half of the season, the league-leading Minnesota Lynx had seemingly mastered the art of resilient victory. Under coach Cheryl Reeve, the squad admirably navigated the brief stints of star forward Napheesa Collier and centre Dorka Juhsz being sidelined with injuries, successfully clinging to the top of the WNBA standings.
That dynamic shifted dramatically on Monday night at the Target Centre, however.
Facing a big, physical Connecticut Sun roster, the Lynx were hit with a devastating surprise: the sudden absence of rookie point guard phenomenon Olivia Miles. Short on ball handlers and unable to prevent crucial baskets inside the paint, Minnesota succumbed to a heart-stopping 90-89 defeat to the Sun. This marked the first back-to-back losses for the Lynx this season, raising a mild flag regarding the team’s susceptibility to interior size. The Unexpected Blow: Olivia Miles Sidelined with Calf Strain The Lynx expected Monday night’s game against the Sun to focus on the much-needed return of forward Dorka Juhsz. Juhsz, who had been out with a foot sprain since the season opener, was cleared for her 2026 season debut, presumably solidifying a dominant Minnesota frontcourt.
Instead, a massive, midday lineup shakeup occurred when it was announced that Olivia Miles, the #2 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft and a newly elected All-Star starter, would be out.
Trouble signs for the point guard first appeared on Friday during Minnesota’s physically demanding loss to the New York Liberty, where Miles left the game with cramps in the fourth quarter and was subsequently kept on the sideline. Reeve called it “standard muscle cramps” following the game. Miles appeared to be moving well over the weekend, dressing for practice on Sunday and participating in Monday’s shootaround, but localised pain persisted, necessitating further examination.
“I think ultimately it wasn’t a cramp,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve admitted pre-game. “So we’re kind of taking the next step of imaging and that sort of thing, and trying to get a final answer on exactly what we’re dealing with.” Eventually diagnosing the injury as a right calf strain has put a massive dent in the Lynx’s well-oiled season.
Miles, the presumptive Rookie of the Year favourite, has been the team’s primary engine through the first 20 games of the season.
Averaging 18.5 points, 5.7 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game, she single-handedly mitigated the impact of previously roster deficiencies with her incredible court vision and shot creation abilities. Reeve offered no timeline for Miles’ return, leaving her status uncertain. — ### Dominating the Paint: Brittney Griner’s Masterclass. With Miles orchestrating the offence, the Lynx’s offensive spacing was severely hampered. This allowed the Connecticut Sun’s length and physicality inside to dictate the game’s shape, with Brittney Griner exploiting the interior void to near perfection. The veteran centre had an exceptional night, dominating the low post for a season-best 29 points and 10 rebounds.
Griner was incredibly efficient on 11-of-14 shooting, consistently getting deep post position against the rotating Lynx defenders and drawing numerous foul calls.
Connecticut Sun Interior Performance Against Minnesota Lynx Category Player Stat Impact Points Griner (29 PTS) Rebounds Griner (10 REB) FG% Griner (11-of-14) Other Contributors Kennedy Burke (16 PTS), Lela Lacan (13 PTS), Olivia Nelson-Ododa (10 PTS) Though sitting lower in the standings, the Sun (5-16) have built their team around a frontcourt that often gives the Minnesota Lynx fits. Beyond Griner, Connecticut also received significant scoring contributions from Kennedy Burke, who dropped 16 points, including a pair of timely, contested three-pointers in the game’s final minutes. Lela Lacan contributed 13 points and Olivia Nelson-Ododa chipped in 10.. Lynx Fight Back Through McBride and Williams Despite the sudden absence of their primary floor general and early offensive struggles, Minnesota battled fiercely at home.
Veteran guard Kayla McBride put together a stellar offensive performance, carrying the Lynx with her elite perimeter shooting. McBride scored a game-high 28 points, hitting deep step-back jumpers and consistently driving into the paint. In Miles’ stead, Courtney Williams took on additional playmaking duties, coming just short of a triple-double with 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and clutch mid-range shooting.
The game turned into a thrilling back-and-forth affair in the fourth quarter.
Trailing 62-55 after three, Minnesota reeled off a quick 6-0 run, highlighted by a Natasha Howard and-one to tie the game at 64-64. The final minute was pure drama. Tied at 84-84 after two clutch free throws from Howard, the Sun ultimately executed better in the dying moments. An interior feed to Griner resulted in a dagger basket, followed by a clutch shot from Burke that pushed Connecticut’s lead to 89-84.
McBride hit a last-second runner to bring the Lynx within one, but the clock ran out on the hosts. — ### Reeve: ’89 Points Should Be Enough to Win’ Coach Cheryl Reeve offered a blunt assessment in her post-game press conference, eschewing excuses related to Olivia Miles’ injury in favour of focus on defensive deficiencies.
For Reeve, scoring 89 points on your home floor should be a winning formula, and a lack of stops is a major concern. “If we have to gut it out, grind it out, 89 [points] should be enough to win,” Reeve stated adamantly. “Offense becomes concerning when you can’t get stops.”
The Lynx were again unable to establish interior defensive restrictions, continuing a troubling trend seen in recent losses to lengthier teams like the New York Liberty and Washington Mystics. Allowing opponents to feed the post freely puts immense pressure on the perimeter defenders and opens up the court. — ### Next Steps: Juhsz’s Return and a Rematch on the Horizon. The bright side of Monday night’s loss was the return of Dorka Juhsz. The veteran centre played 25 minutes off the bench, showing signs of rust but contributing 3 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Her presence will be crucial as she regains conditioning and continues to integrate into the lineup.
With superstar Napheesa Collier reportedly nearing a return to action from offseason ankle surgery, Minnesota may soon be at full strength. At 15-6, the Lynx are still tied for the best record in the WNBA with the Las Vegas Aces. However, they have no time to dwell on this defeat, as they head to Uncasville for a quick rematch against the Sun on Thursday. Minnesota will need to find answers to their interior defensive struggles, with or without Olivia Miles, to maintain their top spot in the league. — ### Key Takeaways from the Game * The Olivia Miles Void: The sudden absence of rookie sensation Olivia Miles undeniably disrupted the Lynx’s offensive rhythm, forcing less-experienced ball handlers into elevated roles and impacting their overall flow.
- Brittney Griner’s Dominance: The veteran Sun centre exploited Minnesota’s lack of interior presence, delivering a stellar 29-point performance and dictating play from the low post. Interior Defence Concerns: Similar to recent losses, the Lynx struggled to consistently stop opponents in the paint, highlighting a recurring area of weakness when facing physically imposing teams. McBride and Williams Carry the Load: Despite the Miles injury, Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams stepped up with strong offensive and playmaking performances. * Dorka Juhsz Returns: The much-anticipated debut of Dorka Juhsz provided a glimmer of hope for Minnesota’s frontcourt, with her eventual integration expected to bolster their interior defence.
