MINNEAPOLIS — After a tough 86-80 loss to the Lynx on Saturday, Kennedy Burke sat in a chair in the hallway at Target Center, still processing the sting of defeat.
This marked her second game back after missing nearly three weeks due to some tension in her right calf.
The team struggled overall, dropping both matches in her absence.
Nonetheless, Burke seemed to find her groove as an impactful player coming off the bench.
In her previous game against Las Vegas, she missed all three of her long-range attempts. It wasn’t ideal.
Yet, against the Lynx, she turned things around and shot confidently.
Burke sunk three in a row for Freedom, totaling 11 points from nine shots and adding two assists.
“I feel really good,” Burke shared, reflecting on her performance after scoring eight in the game against Las Vegas. “It’s like my teammates trust me more; they’re letting me be a bigger part of the game. I know it’s still early—I’m not fully back yet—but it feels nice to know they believe in me.”
Burke, along with Marine Johannus, played a crucial part in attempting to rally Freedom back at halftime and even held a lead for part of the game.
Johannes contributed 12 points and had two assists, and together, Burke and Johannes surpassed the Lynx bench’s points, finishing 23-12.
Emma Meesseman, who has faced both Burke and Johannes throughout her career, joked about being on the receiving end of Burke’s impressive shooting skills.
However, she expressed admiration for them as teammates. “This is my second game with KB, and I like her approach. She plays aggressively and physically,” said Meesseman, who scored 10 points and added 3 rebounds and 3 assists against the Lynx. “I was aware of Marine during the offseason, and I’m really glad to see her stepping up tonight.”
With depth being tested this season due to various injuries, the extra playing time for the reserves during regular season games may prove beneficial when the playoffs arrive.
