There is only one word that comes to my mind that can truly sum up the 2024 Minnesota Lynx regular season: special. The Lynx’s season was nothing short of extraordinary.

Initially projected to finish ninth and miss the playoffs, the Lynx defied the odds, clinching the No. 2 seed and joining the New York Liberty as the only WNBA teams to achieve at least 30 wins in a competitive 40-game season. Another highlight of the season was the Lynx securing their first WNBA Commissioner’s Cup title in late June by defeating the heavily-favored Liberty. This season, the Lynx re-established themselves as a formidable force in the league, reminiscent of the dominance they exhibited during the Maya Moore dynasty years from 2011 to 2018.

As a fan of the Lynx since 2011, I have no other ties to the state of Minnesota. In fact, I had never even set foot there until August, when I made the journey from California to Minneapolis to witness the jersey retirement of my all-time favorite women’s basketball player, Maya Moore. As a UConn fan, I was captivated by Maya’s incredible two-way game — an offensive powerhouse and a defensive force. I had never seen that level of talent before from a college player. So, when she entered the WNBA, I decided that whatever team drafted her would be my team, and that team turned out to be the Minnesota Lynx.

It’s hard to compare this current Lynx team to the dynasty era squads, which featured a core led by current Hall of Famer Lindsay Whalen and future Hall of Famers Seimone Augustus, Rebekkah Brunson, Sylvia Fowles, and Maya Moore. On paper, this year's roster didn’t initially appear to be title contenders, aside from Napheesa “MVPhee” Collier and Kayla “McBuckets" McBride. However, Head Coach Cheryl Reeve and General Manager Clare Duwelius executed a masterclass in free agency and the draft, strategically assembling the right pieces to complement their dynamic duo.

Underrated roster

The Lynx have assembled a well-rounded and versatile squad for the 2024 season. Courtney Williams has been a game-changer, bringing her trademark midrange scoring, ball-handling, and swagger, which energizes both the team and fans. Her chemistry with Natisha Hiedeman, built during their time with the Connecticut Sun, has been a key factor in strengthening the team’s guard play. Alanna Smith adds crucial size and versatility, stretching the floor with her three-point shooting and toughness in the post.

Bridget Carleton, my personal favorite, continues to prove her reliability as a clutch shooter, contributing in crucial moments, especially with her elite three-point percentage. Cecilia Zandalasini’s return since the 2018 season also gives the Lynx added scoring depth and playoff experience and was a vital part in the Lynx winning the Commissioner’s Cup with her 15-point performance off the bench.

The team’s young core — Diamond Miller, Dorka Juhasz, and fan-favorite Alissa Pili — has shown flashes of brilliance and promise for the future. Myeisha Hines-Allen and bringing back Olivia Epoupa have been excellent late-season pickups, bringing defensive intensity and additional depth.

With such a mix of veteran leadership, young talent, and role players stepping up, the Lynx are well-positioned to make a serious title push this season. Their chemistry and strategic additions could definitely make them a formidable contender in the playoffs.

Season rewind

The Lynx started the season strong, going 7-2 in May with impressive victories over heavily-favored teams like the Seattle Storm and the New York Liberty. In June, they continued their momentum, finishing 4-1 in Commissioner’s Cup group play, with their only loss coming from a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Kahleah Copper of the Mercury. Their solid record and point differential secured the Lynx a spot as the Western Conference representative in the Cup Final, where they once again defeated the Liberty, earning a $500,000 prize. However, adversity struck in July when Napheesa Collier suffered a foot injury during the July 4 game against the Connecticut Sun, sidelining her until the Olympic break. In her absence, co-captain Kayla McBride stepped up, leading the team to a 4-3 record while earning her first All-Star selection in a Lynx jersey and her first since 2019.

In August, after returning from the Paris Olympics with her second gold medal and recovering from her foot injury, Collier came out the gate on fire in the second half of the season, earning her the Western Conference Player of the Month honors for the month of August. Her best work came during “Maya Moore Week” (Aug. 15-25) where she dominated the defending champion Las Vegas Aces and Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever, where she averaged 25.6 points on 66.2% shooting and guiding the team to a 7-1 record for the month.

As the Lynx hit the home stretch of the season in September, they closed the season on a seven-game win streak with dominant back-to back wins on the road against the Liberty and the Sun.

Then the first round of the playoffs began Sunday at Target Center, with the Lynx beating the Mercury 102-95, thanks to Bridget Carleton’s go-ahead three-pointer with 3.4 seconds left in the game. I was literally running around my house in excitement.

With Collier on fire, Carleton’s clutch gene, and the whole squad firing on all cylinders, the Lynx are definitely making their presence felt heading into the playoffs. It feels like they’ve found their rhythm and are primed for a deep postseason run.

Don’t miss out on the excitement

With the momentum the Lynx have built and the way the team has been clicking, this could indeed be a season to remember. There’s nothing quite like the energy at Target Center during a playoff run, especially when a championship is on the line. It’s a great time to be a Lynx fan!

Whose house? OUR HOUSE!

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Editor's note: If the Lynx beat the Mercury again on Wednesday night at Target Center, they will advance to the next round of the playoffs. Otherwise they will play the Mercury in a tiebreaker game on Friday in Phoenix.