{"id":699773,"date":"2026-06-12T13:29:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T13:29:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/699773\/"},"modified":"2026-06-12T13:29:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T13:29:10","slug":"lynxs-contender-status-will-face-toughest-test-yet-in-aces-matchup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/699773\/","title":{"rendered":"Lynx\u2019s Contender Status Will Face Toughest Test Yet in Aces Matchup"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cheryl Reeve and her Minnesota Lynx squad have defied the odds. Despite losing four key rotational players and DiJonai Carrington, who was acquired in a trade but didn\u2019t play much due to an injury, in the offseason and starting the season without Napheesa Collier, the Lynx sit atop the standings with a 10-2 record and an eight-game win streak.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Olivia Miles, Natasha Howard, Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride, and Nia Coffey have been outstanding, leading the Lynx to the best defensive rating and the second-best offensive rating in the league. It may have sounded crazy just a few weeks ago, but the Lynx look like a potential contender<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

They have already beaten the Dallas Wings, Atlanta Dream, and Golden State Valkyries\u2014three almost sure-fire playoff teams\u2014but many of their wins also came against struggling teams like the Phoenix Mercury, Chicago Sky, and Seattle Storm.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Lynx\u2019s looming matchup with the Las Vegas Aces this weekend will be the ultimate litmus test of Minnesota\u2019s championship potential.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cA\u2019ja Wilson is one of the best players in the world,\u201d Kayla McBride said in a practice media availability<\/a>, per the Lynx\u2019s YouTube channel. \u201cI think that\u2019s always something that\u2019s on top of your list, but they\u2019re champs for a reason. They play really well together, they know each other, and it\u2019s always a challenge\u2026It\u2019s another test for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Aces are difficult to beat\"A\u2019ja<\/p>\n

May 3, 2026; Austin, TX, USA; Las Vegas Aces center A\u2019ja Wilson (22) reacts after scoring while drawing a foul during the first half against the Dallas Wings at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The Aces just extended their win streak to five with a 105-89 win over the Portland Fire behind a 32-point performance from A\u2019ja Wilson and record-tying 3-point shooting from Chelsea Gray. After some hiccups, like a 30-point loss to the Mercury in the season-opener and consecutive losses to the Los Angeles Sparks and Dallas Wings in late May, the Aces look every bit like the defending champions we expected to see.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Wilson is a big reason for that. She is currently averaging 26.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and 2.3 blocks. Coffey and Howard have been a great defensive duo for the Lynx, but Wilson will challenge them like no other player they have faced so far.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The guard matchups will be intriguing to watch, too. So far, no moment has been too big for Olivia Miles<\/a>, but how will she fare against veteran championship stars like Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, and Jewell Loyd? Can Young, who is one of the best two-way wings in the W, slow down the rookie?\u00a0<\/p>\n

This game will be a battle between the top two teams in the standings, the top two offensive teams in the league, and two of the best coaches in the game. The Aces currently only rank eighth in defensive rating, but when they\u2019re locked in, they can defend as well as any team in the league. The Lynx\u2019s ability to match up with the Aces will tell a lot about what this team could accomplish even without Napheesa Collier.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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