MINNEAPOLIS \u2014The calendar flips to June, summer\u2019s in the air, the accent panels on WNBA basketballs turn from orange to black and the Commissioner\u2019s Cup has begun. <\/p>\n
The Minnesota Lynx tipped off this year\u2019s Commissioner\u2019s Cup, the sixth year the WNBA has held its annual in-season tournament, in emphatic fashion. Their 111-77 victory against the Mercury in Phoenix marked the largest margin of victory in a WNBA game this season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Like sand through hourglass, Courtney Williams<\/a> has become even more of a bucket. Williams, who entered the game with the highest 3-point shooting percentage in the tournament\u2019s history at 47.6% (of players with at least 50 career attempts from 3-point range in Commissioner\u2019s Cup games per across the timeline) and shot a perfect 3-of-3 from deep on the night. Those three three-pointers were part of a 10-of-12 overall performance from the field for 30 points, the most she\u2019s ever scored in a Lynx uniform.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThey just kept doing the same defense and Courtney thrives in those moments,\u201d Kayla McBride<\/a> said after practice on June 3. \u201cShe\u2019s a hooper. Being back in her natural position, I think she\u2019s enjoying it more than anybody realizes. When she\u2019s in the zone like that it\u2019s almost like a flow state. The shots that Courtney takes, that\u2019s what you normally give up [as a defense], but she\u2019s just so efficient at it, so it just becomes a lot of fun. You love to see your teammate having a moment like that.\u201d<\/p>\n In 41 career Commissioner\u2019s Cup games, including Monday night in Phoenix, Williams is averaging 12.3 points on 49% shooting from beyond the arc, per Across the Timeline<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI think it gives us that competitive, playoff type of feel in the middle of the season,\u201d Williams said during the postgame press conference when asked about her overall Commissioner\u2019s Cup success. \u201cI think it\u2019s a good thing for our league, and obviously, 30 bands on the line so when we go get us some extra money, that\u2019s always a good thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Listen now to The IX Sports Podcast and Women\u2019s Sports Daily Williams is hardly the only Lynx player who knows a thing or two about putting up explosive numbers in this tournament. McBride entered this year\u2019s tournament at No. 5 on the all-time 3-point % list at 42.7% on a career 220 attempts. Former Lynx Bridget Carleton<\/a> (45%) is one spot behind Williams.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We are excited to announce the launch of TWO new podcasts for all the women\u2019s sports fans out there looking for a daily dose of women\u2019s sports news and analysis. Stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or anywhere you listen to podcasts, and make sure to subscribe!<\/p>\n