Minnesota Lynx HC Throws Napheesa Collier & Co. Under the Bus After Seattle Storm Snaps 9–0 Streak

And the stats told the story:
The Storm shot a scorching 70% in the opening quarter and finished at 56.5% for the night.
Minnesota had their flashes—Napheesa Collier was brilliant with 25 points and nine rebounds, Kayla McBride nailed five threes on her way to 19—but a 60–49 lead midway through the third? It vanished.

“Our defense wasn’t up to par,” Collier admitted. “And Seattle took advantage of it. They came ready to play. And we didn’t really.’’

There was a moment when it felt like the Lynx would take control. Up one at the half, they stormed out of the locker room with an 11-1 burst, capped by Collier’s and-one. The lead swelled to 11.

And then it crumbled.

A 13-2 Seattle run, ignited by Ogwumike’s primal scream after tying the game at 62. Then Wheeler drilled the go-ahead three. Then Diggins fed Magbegor for a point-blank bucket. And suddenly, it was slipping away.

“We showed no understanding of what their identity was,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said bluntly. “They scored 50 points in the paint. So, their will and determination to get what they wanted was much greater than ours.”

Missed layups. Costly turnovers. Silent stares on the bench. Minnesota had chances. But Seattle finished.

Now, the Lynx sit at 9-1. The dream of perfection? Gone. The New York Liberty is the last team standing without a loss.

The Storm, now 6-4, rolls into a tough road trip with momentum.
The Lynx stay home to regroup, reflect, and respond.

Because if there was any doubt before, Reeve made sure it’s gone now:
Perfection’s over. The urgency starts here.

As Collier’s Lynx stumble, Cloud and the Liberty take command of the W

Meanwhile, the only undefeated team in the WNBA is definitely in control of its own destiny to advance to the Finals for the third straight season. The New York Liberty, now 9-0 with a league-best 1.000 PCT, are not just winning—they’re dictating the pace of the league. Their latest win over the Chicago Sky came after they had already secured a staggering +56 point differential in the first eight games alone, further cementing their dominance.

Oct 20, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams (10) looks to drive past New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) in the second quarter during game five of the 2024 WNBA Finals at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

While Minnesota slipped to 9-1 following a tough loss to Seattle, New York surged ahead, untouched and unfazed. Their next opponent, the Indiana Fever, may be without Caitlin Clark, making it likely the Liberty stretch their run to 10-0. But the real test comes after: Looming on the schedule are three playoff-caliber teams: the Atlanta Dream, led by Brittney Griner, the Phoenix Mercury—currently among the top four in the league—and the surging Seattle Storm, who just handed Minnesota their first loss.

Still, the Liberty aren’t blinking. That’s because this team doesn’t just have the talent of Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu (one of the reasons 400 million $ evaluation by Forbes)—it has identity, thanks in large part to offseason addition Natasha Cloud. A vocal leader and two-way force, Cloud has been the missing puzzle piece. “She leads not only by example, but with her voice,” said GM Jonathan Kolb. With Cloud running the show, the Liberty has erased the inconsistent second halves of past seasons and is now delivering full 48-minute efforts.

New York’s standard is set and they might just repeat if the other teams dont stop them on time.