{"id":34398,"date":"2025-07-24T18:57:12","date_gmt":"2025-07-24T18:57:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/34398\/"},"modified":"2025-07-24T18:57:12","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T18:57:12","slug":"its-time-for-the-lynx-to-measure-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/34398\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s time for the Lynx to measure up."},"content":{"rendered":"

At 21-4, the Minnesota Lynx are first in the WNBA<\/a>. After stealing the show at All-Star weekend, it\u2019s time for them to lock back in and show the league that they\u2019re ready to make up for last year\u2019s Finals. <\/p>\n

Yes, I\u2019m going to talk about the StudBudz<\/p>\n

\"AT&T<\/p>\n

The StudBudz, Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman, took over All-Star Weekend.<\/p>\n

Photo by Steph Chambers\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Three Lynx players were under the spotlight at All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis. The usual suspect, Napheesa Collier, set the WNBA record for points in an All-Star game, taking home an All-Star MVP alongside her 36 points. However, her headlines paled in comparison to those of her teammates Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman. Williams and Hiedeman have quickly become the new faces of the league (sorry, Sydney Colson) through their Twitch channel \u201cStudBudz.\u201d The StudBudz streamed for 72-hours straight during All-Star weekend, documenting everything from the Skills Challenge and All-Star Game to hotel room IVs, frustratingly slow scooter rides and Hiedeman\u2019s now (in)famous Friday morning quote: \u201cDid I do anything embarrassing [last night]?\u201d <\/p>\n

Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve had some inspiring words about her backcourt duo\u2019s off-court passion: <\/p>\n

I just couldn\u2019t keep up with them, every time I turned around someone was saying something about StudBudz or being on StudBudz. What an incredible experience for them, and the league.<\/p>\n

Cheryl Reeve on the StudBudz 72 hour live stream<\/p>\n

\u201cI just couldn\u2019t keep up with them, every time I turned around someone was saying something about stud budz or being on StudBudz. What an incredible experience for them, and the league\u201d pic.twitter.com\/MAEW337Inr<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Andrew Dukowitz (@adukeMN) July 21, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

She referenced some of the league\u2019s earliest media babies, and how they were forced to distort their own image and identity in order to fit acceptable narratives. The StudBudz, in Reeve\u2019s eyes, are indicative of the league\u2019s progress towards acceptance. She also claimed that a well-circulated video of her dancing with the duo was \u201cAI,\u201d and joked that if the Lynx don\u2019t win on Tuesday, \u201cthis sh**\u2019s done.\u201d <\/p>\n

As Minnesota shifts gears back into championship mode, the StudBudz\u2019s personalities will take a backseat to their on-court production. However, the motion that they carried throughout All-Star weekend is real. Players finding external avenues of expression, and business, is vital for the expansion of the league. Williams and Hiedeman may not be the safest poster-children for the WNBA, but safety doesn\u2019t make headlines. StudBudz do.<\/p>\n

Back where they left off<\/p>\n

\"Chicago<\/p>\n

The Minnesota Lynx lead the WNBA with 21 wins.<\/p>\n

Photo by David Sherman\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Post-All Star, the Lynx picked up on their season-long momentum with a ruthless beatdown on the Chicago Sky. Minnesota still leads the league in field goals per game, field goal percentage, assists and blocks. They\u2019re second in points per game to the Liberty, only held back by the 3-point gap between the two teams. They make up for that differential on defense. They are the league\u2019s best scoring defense, best 3-point defense and best free-throw defense (least shooting fouls per game).<\/p>\n

If there\u2019s any statistical category that they\u2019re lacking dominance in, it\u2019s free throws attempted. They attempt the second-fewest free throws per game of any team. They don\u2019t struggle to score, but free throws can decide games in playoff environments when field goals are at a premium. No Lynx player besides Collier shoots more than three free throws per game\u2014changing that would be a step in the right direction. However, that\u2019s where all their steps are going regardless. The Lynx are a tough, tough team to beat.<\/p>\n

Complacency and exhaustion will be the biggest mountains for Minnesota to climb in the season\u2019s waning period. They\u2019re playing for the postseason, and they\u2019ve got to find ways to be prepared\u2014mentally and physically. If the team feels like it\u2019s in their best interest to rest some of their key players, especially Collier, then they should do it. Point blank period. If the Lynx were to rest their starters for the entire latter half of the season, they would still very likely make the playoffs. Health is a buzzword in playoff basketball, deservedly so.<\/p>\n

Finals rematch, finally<\/p>\n

\"2024<\/p>\n

The Minnesota Lynx lost the 2024 WNBA Finals in a Game 5 overtime to the New York Liberty.<\/p>\n

Photo by Elsa\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

After an all-time classic WNBA Finals between the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx last season, fans across the league have been itching for a rematch. And what did the league do? Schedule absolutely zero matchups between the two powerhouses until the end of July. The Liberty and Lynx have failed to cross paths all year, so the matchup on July 30 will be the season\u2019s most anticipated game to date… but it doesn\u2019t end there.<\/p>\n

Starting on August 10, the Lynx face the Liberty three-straight times. (New York will play a back-to-back in LA and Las Vegas between the first and second matchup against Minnesota.) Neither team will be desperate for wins, but will do anything to make a statement. They\u2019ll get to try out new matchups, new strategies, new lineups: it\u2019s basketball sparring. If you want playoff basketball in August, you know where to look.<\/p>\n