FINAL: Sun 90, Lynx 89 Lynx can't keep the Sun out of the paint, led by 29 points from BG. Even as a pair of Howard FTs tied it late, still felt like CT was in control when MN couldn't get stops. McBride, 28 pts, Williams 23/9/6. Howard 18/6.

Pair of FTs from Natasha Howard tie the game 84-84 with 54.1 seconds to play. I was remarking pregame how the Lynx haven't gone into OT yet this year... did I jinx it

End 3Q: Sun 70, Lynx 66 McBride 23 pts, Williams 18. A much better 9-point 3Q for Howard, but up to 4 PF (20 total for MN). BG up to 23 points for the Sun. Lynx had a brief lead, but 5-0 run by CT (shooting 50% from the floor) closes it.

The Lynx are up to 12 personal fouls here as a team with 6:34 to play in the 2nd quarter. Coffey has 3, Howard 2, Toni and Hamzova 2 off the bench.

End 1Q: Sun 25, Lynx 22 Weird 1Q for the Lynx, seven PF but the Sun 5-for-10 on FTs. Back-to-back threes for McBride and a late and-1 for Kosu cut things closer after Sun, w/ seven second chance points early, led by as many as nine. 8 pts, 3 reb, two assists for Williams.

Howard picks up two early fouls, so Juhász subs in here early in 1Q, gets a quick hug from former UConn teammate Aaliyah Edwards

Standing O at Target Center as Reeve is recognized for her Hall of Fame induction in the Lynx’s first home game since

Maya Caldwell gets her first start of the Lynx season and Courtney Williams slides to PG.

Dorka Juhász warming up for tonight’s Lynx game vs the Sun:

“We’re excited to have Dorka back,” Reeve said pregame. Also sounds like Eliska Hamzova will be active tonight as another ball handler for the Lynx.

Cheryl Reeve pregame on Olivia Miles (right calf strain, per team notes): “Those that were in tune to the last game, you know, she mentioned feeling some cramping, and you know, I think ultimately it wasn't a cramp, and so we're kind of taking the next step of imaging…” (1/3)

With the Sun coming into town to play the Lynx, a little throwback — I wrote about Duluth native Gianna Kneepkens ahead of the WNBA draft for @stribsports.startribune.com. Will be her Connecticut team's first game in her home state. www.startribune.com/wnba-draft-g...

First Lynx home game since All-Star announcements means new additions to the screens at Target Center

The MN Wind Chill won their ultimate playoff against the Pittsburgh Thunderbirds at FNB earlier today. They left behind a note in the visitors locker room for #MNAuroraFC

Olivia Miles officially downgraded from questionable to out today (right calf) on the latest league injury report, post-shootaround

Frontcourt huddle Juhász (probable) said at shootaround that she is still TBD but “I'm feeling good, got in a great practice yesterday, today's shoot around.” Said still game time decision “but feeling good now.”

Media talked with associate HC Eric Thibault at shootaround. Not atypical to not get injury updates at those — said Miles’s calf designation was lingering from Friday, but doing all right, no updates, will “let them handle that at the appropriate time” re: yea/nay tonight’s game.

A little throwback to summer 2024 and one of my first Strib stories in honor of Dorka Juhász’s “probable” designation for today’s Lynx game vs CT:

A statement to our fans:

THE ROAD CONTINUES 🥳

GOALLL GRACIE DUNAWAY!! 90+ | Minnesota Aurora 2 - Pittsburgh Riveters 1

When asked if they’d prefer to play with one another at All-Star, or mix it up and play against each other, Olivia Miles and Natasha Howard agreed they hope they’re drafted to the same team. “We hope — they’ve seen what it looks like,” Miles said of the duo’s on-court partnership.

From today’s Lynx media avail: chatting size, potential lineups when the team is at full strength (+ All-Star nods)

At Lynx media avail today and Otter transcript caught me seeing the U.S. soccer news via push notification and announcing to everyone once the scrum had ended 😭

Y’all can I admit something that’s been bothering me… this is not to discredit EuroLeague MVP honors *at all,* but everytime I see an article, broadcast, etc. say Dorka was the *youngest* MVP… did Breanna Stewart not win EuroLeague MVP 2018-19 (would have been 24)… am I missing something

It will be strange reading the Strib without @jimsouhan.bsky.social’s columns. Souhan: Reflecting on 36 years of scoops, spats and Minnesota sports history www.startribune.com/mn-vikings-j...

Won?

“They are long, they are big, especially their 3-4-5. They did a good job of making it hard for us.” Reinforcements are on the way for the Lynx, but Friday, the Liberty’s length made the matchup tough in a 99-86 Lynx loss. For @stribsports.startribune.com www.startribune.com/minnesota-ly...

Went back because I was curious and the Lynx held Breanna Stewart to 32.6% shooting in the 2024 Finals that NY won. 14/19 tonight.

“Cramping, is what she told me, last I heard” is what Reeve said postgame re: Olivia Miles subbing out toward the start of the 4Q.

FINAL: Liberty 99, Lynx 86 McBride 18 pts, Williams 16 for the Lynx. Miles 14/5/5. Liberty hold starting Lynx front court to 14 pts, 5-for-21, as all NY starters hit double figures, led by 36 from Stewart. That's a game you want size back for, though bench 24-5 in Lynx favor.

End of 3rd: Liberty 78, Lynx 65 Ionescu up to 17 points for NY. Lynx with the 13-8 advantage on TOs but shooting just 39%, to NY's 57%.

A much-needed 7-0 run for the Lynx, with back-to-back buckets from Courtney Williams (11 pts, 5-9) after the Liberty opened the second half extending their lead to 15. Liberty 64, Lynx 56 | 6:25 3Q

At half: Liberty 59, Lynx 49 Liberty end the half on a 13-2 run after the Lynx had erased NY's early lead. NY shooting 65%, led by 18 pts from Stewart (7-for-10). Miles with 12 pts (4-11), five assists, three boards for Lynx. McBride 8 pts (3-6), two steals.

Lynx cut things to 36-33 against the Liberty with 6:48 to play in the 2nd after a put-back bucket from Ola Kosu, who has five points off the bench. Five Lynx players all have five points. McBride's got 8.

Liberty with a fast start, up 17-9 over the Lynx with 4:38 to play in 1Q. Stewart with 12 points, 5-for-5 from the floor.

Aurora advance to the USL W League quarterfinals with a 2-0 win over Union FC Macomb. Goals by Skye Leach and Jelena Zbiljic. (both coincidentally featured in this!) www.startribune.com/minnesota-au...

Dorka officially listed out for Friday — had gone into the day questionable, then doubtful. Not totally shocking to get a shootaround or gameday vibe for a first game back and get downgraded if not feeling fully good to go.

Dorka Juhász downgraded from questionable to doubtful for today’s Lynx game vs NY. Questionable typically ~50% chance to play, doubtful 25%.

So a brief recap of the June league-based accolades for the Lynx: Olivia Miles: Rookie of the Month, Western Conf. POTW, All-Star starter Natasha Howard: Western Conf. POTW, All-Star starter Cheryl Reeve: Coach of the Month, ties regular szn wins record for a head coach

Also more Lynx news in the inbox: Cheryl Reeve named WNBA Coach of the Month for June. The Lynx were 9-2 in that stretch.

The road begins today 🛣️ VS @unionfcmacomb ⏰: 2:30PM 🏟️: F.N.B Stadium 📺: Fox Local App & SportsEngine Want to watch the game with other Aurora fans? Our official playoff watch party will be at Black Hart (@blackhartstp)! ⚽️📺

“As soon as I tore my ACL, I was kind of like, ‘The blessing in disguise is I get to be on this team again.” Jelena Zbiljic was ready to go pro, but is back for a fifth shot at a USL W League title with @mnaurorafc.bsky.social. www.startribune.com/minnesota-au...

Wrote a bit about Cheryl Reeve on the verge of a record, and how former players who helped her stack the beginning of her 379 regular-szn wins as Lynx head coach are still helping her add to that total now. For @stribsports.startribune.com www.startribune.com/minnesota-ly...

NEWS: Olivia Miles adds June’s Rookie of the Month to her May honors. Averaged 21.2 points, 5.6 assists, 4.5 rebounds per game in June.

Per Lynx, Phee listed as out still, Dorka questionable for tmrw’s game vs New York Liberty. Questionable injury tag typically means 50% yea/nay for players.

Lynx's Olivia Miles and Natasha Howard are 2026 WNBA All-Star starters. Miles is the only rookie starter this year, the first Lynx rookie All-Star since Collier (2019) and first Lynx rookie All-Star starter since Maya Moore (2011). Howard gets her third All-Star nod ('19, '22).

"We’re not at the end yet. You know, we still have more to do. But I think that Dorka and Phee, their work ethic has been terrific." Napheesa Collier and Dorka Juhász were official Lynx practice participants Wednesday. For @stribsports.startribune.com www.startribune.com/napheesa-col...

Re: Lynx avail today — when asked about return to the court for Collier and Juhasz, word from Phee was "We don't have a goal game day yet." Team says they are "progressing as expected."