WNBA Finals Notebook: Scheduling issues, when the Lynx realized they were special, Liberty redemption tour

brooklyn — The New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx are scheduled to tip off in Game 1 on Thursday night. WNBA finals, and players and coaches alike addressed the media prior to the start of the series.

For the Lynx, there will be less than 48 hours between their victory over the Lynx in Game 5 of the Finals and the WNBA Finals tip-off. For Liberty, the discussion centered around the differences between this year's team and last year's team, and what they need to do to overcome this year's challenges.

Here's what we learned from the media before Game 1 for both teams.

1. The Lynx's quick comeback from the semifinals to the finals was wild

On Tuesday night, Minnesota State clinched a spot in the finals with a win over the Sun.

Twelve hours later, they boarded a plane to New York and headed straight to the Barclays Center for a late afternoon media session.

Coach Bridget Carleton said Wednesday evening that the team didn't even have a chance to review film in preparation for the game against Liberty, but coach Sheryl Reeve reiterated multiple times that quick action is no excuse.

Meanwhile, Liberty has been taking a break from preparing for the final since Sunday after defeating Ace in Game 4. Still, Brianna Stewart would like to see the finals schedule extended beyond Oct. 20 (the current date for Game 5) to give teams additional time between rounds, and the final game. Between.

“This is the biggest moment of the season, probably condensed into 10 days, right?” Stewart said.

2. The New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx are stylistically similar.

A matchup between the Liberty and Lynx should be fun for many reasons, one of which is the similar styles of both teams. That wasn't the case between the Lynx and Connecticut Sun – head coach Sheryl Reeve actually described both teams as stylistically opposites – and it was the same between the Las Vegas Aces and Liberty.

“I think we both play a really fun style of basketball,” Lynx guard Bridget Carleton said. “We both rely heavily on assists, assisting the basket, sharing the ball. I think that's what's going to be interesting to watch. That's what fans will see both of our teams play this year. I think that's why I liked it…We know each other so well. Everything is going to be more difficult in the playoffs.”

2. The Lynx may not have as much experience as New York, but they aren't starving.

The topic throughout the year was that Liberty was looking for redemption after losing to Ace in last year's final. Defeating Las Vegas in the semifinals was the first step toward redemption.

The Lynx, on the other hand, is a newly formed team. Only five players return from last year, and the group doesn't share the same trauma as New York. Still, lack of playoff experience doesn't mean Minnesota is inferior.

“Each and every one of us is hungry,” Carlton said. “It's kind of cool. Of course, we don't have the experience of losing the championship last year like they did. This year, everyone just got together.

“Throughout the season, we went through ups and downs. It was clear that we were going to win the Commissions Cup. [was a high]Then we went to Dallas and lost to Dallas. So, there have been some ups and downs. We've learned a lot and we want to be a consistent team. ”

Cheryl Reeve said the regular season is an opportunity for the team to grow.

“I don't know if we're hurt or not. We've been through challenges in games and we've been through adversity all season.”

Reeve said he noticed that the Lynx players were able to figure out how to react when the opposing team launched a rushing attack.

“I think we're good problem solvers…that's what I enjoy most about this team,” Reeve said. “Their emotional maturity, their ability to sit on the bench together before the coaches come in and blame them for what just happened. They already know what should happen and that's their You can tell by looking at his face.”

3. Lynx players knew they were a special team from the start.

The Lynx added Alana Smith and Courtney Williams in the offseason, and Cheryl Reeve and the players have said the team's atmosphere has changed significantly since the transfers.

“There's always a good atmosphere at training camp,” Carlton said. “Everyone got along really well in the locker room from day one, and I think it's well documented that that translated to energy on the court.”

Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

“And I think when we won the Commissioner's Cup, we were like, 'Okay, we can do some damage.'” You can make the playoffs, you can compete for a championship. “That’s when I knew we could be really, really good. But again, it worked out early on — our chemistry. off The court reflected the will of the court from day one, and it has remained that way through the highs and lows. ”

Reeve has said several times in the past that his confidence in this group was instilled in him on the second day of training camp.

“There was a moment where I looked around and I know last year wasn't great in some ways that we were trying to accomplish. But this group, they just, they just naturally… “He had an instinctive way of doing things right away,” Reeve said. “They're really good people and really enjoy each other. That's all that's been said.”

5. This is a different Liberty team than last year

Throughout the year, Liberty players have reflected on how much more experienced and connected this year's team has become compared to previous versions.

“I think this moment feels different based on that experience, the experience of having this group together and knowing the growth we’ve made,” Stewart said.

They also Leonie Fievichprovides additional shooting, length, and versatility.

“At the same time, it’s like, it’s a new year, right? We have all those scars and scars and memories of what happened last year. [it’s an] A completely different situation, a different team, [we’re] I’m ready,” Stewart said.

Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello echoed that sentiment.

“That’s part of the journey, right? [We have a] We were hurt from last year, but it motivated us to be better,” Brondello said. “It was just a memory. It wasn't us. It was about building chemistry, connecting, continuing to trust each other and growing, and that's what we did.”