Back at the beginning of the season, it's safe to say that no one saw this matchup as a significant game. The Lynx were rated ninth going into the WNBA season, and while there was a lot of interest in how Caitlin Clark's rookie year would go, very few people thought they'd get within sniffing distance of the playoffs.
Things have changed some, to say the least. The Fever and the Lynx are currently two of the most fascinating teams in the WNBA, but for very different reasons. Minnesota nearly went undefeated in August, and they're currently tied with the Connecticut Sun for second-best record in the league. The Fever, meanwhile, have been in a league of their own lately, clinching a playoff berth as Clark continues to set records on a near nightly basis.
Game Details
Fixture: Minnesota Lynx vs. Indiana Fever
Date and Time: September 6, 2024 @ 7:30 PM EST
Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis IN
Minnesota Lynx Team Review
The Lynx are one of the hottest teams in the league right now, having won eight of their last nine. They slipped against the Dallas Wings in an obvious letdown game, but they'll be primed to take on the Fever. They beat Indiana recently at home, so a complementary road win would continue to advance their standing as the team no one wants to face in the upcoming WNBA playoffs.
The Lynx are coming off a tougher than expected home win against Chicago, 79-74, and there's a chance they may have been looking ahead to this much-touted matchup. They were led in that game by Courtney Williams, who posted 22 points on 11 for16 shooting, but the focus lately has been all about Napheesa Collier.
Collier was just named WNBA Player of the Month for August, when she came within a game of carrying Minnesota to an undefeated month. She's a do-it-all force on both offense and defense, and if it weren't for the season A'ja Wilson is having, she'd be the top MVP candidate.
Indiana Fever Team Review
The Fever have been all about Caitlin Clark all year long, and with good reason. She's virtually a lock to win the Rookie of the Year award, and she posted a triple double in Indiana's last win against the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday.
But that game wasn't just about Clark. The Indiana Fever played an up-and down first half against the Sparks, but they were rescued by Aliyah Boston, who used her strong inside game to score 24, including numerous tough buckets in the low post down the stretch. Kelsey Mitchell contributed 18 to go with Clark's 24/10/10 triple-double, but it was Boston who put the Fever on her back in the fourth frame.
Who to Watch
Minnesota Lynx
For the Lynx, it has to be all about Collier. Stopping Indiana's powerful offense is no small task, but the Lynx limited the Fever to 80 back in Minneapolis. The atmosphere at Gainbridge Fieldhouse is guaranteed to be electric for this one, though, so Collier will have to step up and lead them in a hostile road environment. She's been doing that nearly everywhere, though, regardless of where the games are bing played, and there's no reason to think that's going to change in this one.
Indiana Fever
This is being billed as a Collier vs. Clark matchup, but it's not exactly that. They play different roles for their respective teams, and it will be up to Clark to post numbers while limiting her turnover count, which has been alarmingly high in several recent games.
But Boston is perhaps the real player to watch here. She'll be charged with controlling Collier inside, which basically no one has been able to do lately. This should be a great battle to watch as one of the ultimate game-within-a-game challenges the WNBA has to offer right now.