“We know we’re capable of more and we know we have to do more… we don’t want to be pedestrian in anything we do,” as a head coach that is focused on victory, Cheryl Reeve knows exactly what she wants from Minnesota Lynx. The 2025 WNBA title. And nothing less. With this mindset to fulfil last year’s dream, Reeve and her roster have been creating a milestone in winning consecutive matches so far. The undefeated champions have stormed on every court as they brutally devoured any team that dared face the Lynx. But not without their star players in Napheesa Collier and Courtney Williams. Reeve expects so much more from her team, an almost flawless deliverance in every game not because the team has to, but because the team is capable to do so.
However, as the best defensive player in the league, Lynx athlete Napheesa Collier was left reeling after national analyst compared her performance with 2025 Seattle Storm rookie, Dominique Malonga.
With Malonga’s presence in the WNBA, winning the DPOTY will no longer be a cakewalk for the power forward. Not to forget, Collier was instrumental in leading Minnesota Lynx into the W finals last year, with most number of steals and ranking higher in the league’s overall number of rebounds and blocks. Despite her jaw-dropping performances, national analyst was in praise of the newly inducted rookie.
Praising Malonga’s defensive prowess on the hardwood, ex-ESPN host and national hoops analyst Rachel DeMita pointed out how the youngest player on the Storm’s roster went against prominent athletes like A’ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray and successfully guarded her opponents from scoring. “Dominique Malonga got going in that game against Las Vegas Aces. I loved seeing her go up against A’ja Wilson, like she was already guarding her,” DeMita said in her latest video. “She was guarding Chelsea Gray. And if you watch Dominique Malonga, like her defence is so good.“
While the centre has only shown flashes of her ability so far, DeMita hopes that the player wins the trust of her locker room and grabs more minutes on the hardwood to showcase her full potential and strengths. Calling her an asset for the roster, DeMita rightfully indicates that other players should be scared of Malonga’s presence and dominance in the paint, and why not!? “She has a bag of post moves. She’s not somebody who’s going to go in there and body but she can also shoot the three and her defence is so good. So, I was so excited to see Dominique get more minutes. And I think as the season goes on, she will get more and more minutes and she will be a really scary asset for the Seattle Storm.”
Boasting an average of 4 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 0.7 assists so far, Malonga has the versatility, size, and height advantage at her disposal. No wonder the prodigy is expected to clinch the DPOY title! However, this prediction comes across as a word of caution for Napheesa Collier. The Minnesota Lynx athlete won the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year and is expected to crown the title this year too. However, Malonga’s exceptional performances have placed Collier’s title in a jeopardy.
Minnesota Lynx cruising through the regular season
With 7-0 standing in the regular season so far, the Minnesota Lynx has been cruising through the regular season. They took off this year right where they left the last season from, and it is no surprise that the team ranks number one in the Western conference division. And with a coach in Cheryl Reeves, the Lynx roster even managed a win against the newly expanded team on the block, the Golden State Valkyries.
Oct 18, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve talks to the media before game four of the 2024 WNBA Finals against the New York Liberty at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
And though the Valkyries boast some of the strongest talents from around the world, the Lynx carry players like Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride, and Napheesa Collier. They came just an inch away from clinching the championship title last year. As a team that knows how to dominate the paint and maintain the upper hand, the Lynx delivered an impressive performance. They faced Natalie Nakase’s roster in a showdown where forward Napheesa Collier recorded 24 points and 11 rebounds. Courtney Williams added 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists to lead the team to an 86–75 win over the Valkyries on Sunday.
And as they prepare to face the Phoenix Mercury again, the undefeated champions have a roster advantage at their disposal. While Mercury struggles as their prominent players have been sidelined owing to injuries, Lynx with a healthy roster is fully capable of moving past its opponents and grab another win in their stride. And as Mercury prepares to avenge the 74-71 loss, can the Lynx outshine the Phoenix or will they face their first loss of the season? Whatever be the outcome, the match is expected to be gruelling and enough to keep fans on the edge of their seats, vying for more.
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