The Lynx felt that Connecticut was the asserter in Game 1 of the WNBA Semifinals thanks to the Sun’s chatter and carelessness. Minnesota therefore wanted to answer the doorbell.
You don’t have to ask Courtney Williams twice.
The Lynx point guard was in the thick of things in the third quarter of Game 2, when she and Sun guard Marina Mabrey shared words during a dead ball.
Williams delivered a play-by-play to the media following the Lynx’s victory Tuesday.
“We were talking. I told her she couldn’t keep me,” Williams said. “She told me I didn’t have a lot of good matches.”
“I said, ‘So you think you’re pushing? Because I’m really under pressure. »
“A little back and forth,” Williams said. “It’s the playoffs, man. We’re going to talk a little. We will be cool again after we finish playing.
Williams simply isn’t going to back down from a challenge. He’s a 5-foot-8-inch bulldog. The 30-year-old has an edge that teams need to succeed in tough matches. And this semifinal series, which features a Game 3 Friday in Connecticut, is full of tough games. These are the two best defensive teams in the WNBA going head to head game after game. Officials have allowed plenty of contact, leading to two ultra-physical matches so far, with no signs of letting up.
So it’s an advantage for Minnesota to have Williams as their field general. She’s not afraid to speak her mind, just as she’s not at all shy about taking a big photo. She figures to need a lot of the latter as the rest of the playoffs unfold.
Connecticut is making life difficult for Lynx All-Star forward Napheesa Collier. Minnesota won the second game when Williams and Alanna Smith made shots. They lost the first game when they didn’t. The Lynx never had to worry about Williams struggling in the first game, leading to any hesitation moving forward. Hell, Williams was 1 of 6 shooting from the field through the first 20 minutes Tuesday, only to respond by making five of his seven shots in the second half to help Minnesota even the series with a victory it absolutely had to have. .
Connecticut forces its opponents to fight for everything offensively. Williams is ready to fight for every point.
These are the type of players you need in tense environments like the one the Lynx will face Friday in Connecticut, where Williams played five seasons. Certainly, Williams can handle any hostile environment.
After all, she is under pressure.
