The Minnesota Lynx clinched the WNBA's No. 1 seed, but Olivia Miles' absence highlighted a potential point guard depth problem entering the playoffs.
The Minnesota Lynx clinched the No. 1 seed for the WNBA postseason on Sept. 22 despite losing to the Indiana Fever, with the help of the Portland Fire.
Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve decided to bench the starting lineup during the second quarter as the team was on the verge of a blowout. The second unit cut the lead to single digits, but the Fever continued to push ahead. The team played without rookie guard Olivia Miles, who sat out due to calf soreness.
Minnesota was able to clinch the top seed because the Fire defeated the Golden State Valkyries 90-82 in overtime on Sept. 22. Although the Lynx will be the top seed, Tuesday's game highlighted the lack of depth at point guard and the reliance on Miles when she is in the lineup.
Olivia Miles' Importance Becomes Clear
Miles sat out Tuesday's game due to calf soreness, and the starting lineup struggled to get into a rhythm. Minnesota is 31-9 with her in the lineup, and she has played 40 of the team's 43 games this season.
When the TCU product was not in the lineup, the team went 1-1. Tuesday's loss may have been due to a lack of focus or effort, but it highlights what could happen if she is not in the lineup or has a bad game in the postseason.
Minnesota's Championship Teams Had a Point Guard Formula
The Lynx have won four WNBA championships since the team's inception in 1999. Minnesota won titles in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017, and each team featured a pass-first point guard who could take over a game in a unique way.
Former guards Alexis Hornbuckle and Lindsay Whalen were the featured guards during the franchise's first championship run in 2011. In 2013, Whalen continued to lead the Lynx as the floor general.
During Minnesota's championship runs in 2015 and 2017, Whalen and former guard Renee Montgomery handled the load as the primary guards. Since the 2017 championship, the team reached the Finals once in 2024.
While the 2024 WNBA Finals could have gone either way, the team didn't have a pass-first point guard. Guard Courtney Williams is an elite midrange scorer but isn't a natural point guard.
Throughout her time with the Connecticut Sun, she played off the ball because the team included former guard Jasmine Thomas and forward Alyssa Thomas as facilitators.
In Minnesota, Williams had to take on the responsibility of point guard, and guard Natisha Hiedeman normally comes off the bench; her load increased while in the Twin Cities.
Point Guard Depth Looms Over Lynx Playoff Run
The WNBA playoffs will begin on Sept. 27, and Minnesota has a chance to win it all. However, the team will need to have a solution at point guard depth as it navigates the postseason.
