“I think it’s more of a coincidence on the Valkyries’ part,” said Reeve, who passed Mike Thibault for the most combined regular-season and postseason victories in league history with 414.
“It’s just the time of year that she really kind of got to a different space, is playing at a different level. It just so happened that Golden State was a couple of those games.
“She changed the game today. She changed the game last time we played, and she’s just playing her best basketball of the season. She’s confident. Her decision-making in the pick-and-roll coverages. She’s doing a nice job freezing, you know, the post player a little bit about where to go. Just, you know, she seeks the paint well. Her play, particularly in the first half, was vital to us, kind of getting through that a little bit [of a] slower first quarter.”
Hiedeman has lifted her game, and the Lynx practically have two starting points guards in Hiedeman and Williams, who will share the backcourt for stretches. On Sunday, Williams watched from the bench as Hiedeman was part of a unit that outscored the Valkyries 26-12 in the second quarter and never looked back.
Valkyries, it’s not who you play, but when you play them. And you have caught Hiedeman at the wrong time.
This month, she became third player in WNBA history to score at least 20 points off the bench in three consecutive games. Including Sunday, she has scored at least 18 points in five of her past six games.