Lynx were a lot more proactively physical on defense and took advantage of the natural 3rd quarter crowd lull with everyone peeing and getting snacks. Snatched away all that emotional momentum going into half.

Is anyone in the W more perpetually disgruntled on the court than Alyssa Thomas?

So used to Luka wearing 77 that I forget it is inarguably a Center's number, hence Kliundikova.

Cost of a size advantage smh

Hiedeman having a lot more trouble driving on Akoa-Makani than Whitcomb. The rookie's best stretch of minutes this playoffs? Finding Sabally on that back door cut from wayyy up at the top of the key got my attention as well.

Carlton is having a *rough* series man lol just getting hounded on the perimeter. That was a ruthless theft by AT on the sideline.

There you go Phee. Love the aggressive trap on Kah. Force her decision before she's in rhythm. Take the physicality to her.

"R to the Eezy, M to the Yzzy..."

Nothing but impressed by Phoenix's toughness and physical intensity. Crowd giving them a boost too. Minnesota hasn't risen to the challenge yet despite playing better for 2/3 of the first half.

Kah is a force tonight. Looking like prime Michael Finley with that extra bouncy FT line jumper.

Lynx need to keep hunting Whitcomb. She's having a great offensive game but Williams and Hiedeman can run by her without a screen.

Phoenix is very obviously gooning out there on purpose at home. Daring the refs to call fouls every possession. Establishing physical dominance at home. They want to draw the game into chaos. Great test for the Lynx. Gotta keep your heads! They're exasperated, not responding with toughness (yet).

Yo AT shook Phee out her shoes going left right there though 😬

As intentional of a tech as I've ever seen lolll I fw it

Someone has to meme the Cheryl Reeve pelvic thrusts lol you got like 6 to choose from

Lynx should be up by 6-10 points rn. Leaving some easy buckets on the court. Bonner and Copper have had really nice offensive 2nd quarters. Big to get them going early, esp. Bonner. Her being enough of a scorer to force an adjustment/stricter defensive 'rules' would be huge for PHX.

Hiedeman might be exposing Whitcomb rn. Three easy blow-byes so right to the cup. Send that lady help! Make T be a facilitator.

Bonner has played about 300% better tonight than in games 1 & 2 through the first 10 mins.

Glad the broadcast is highlighting Evans a lot, she essentially made Loyd being a nonfactor scoring...a nonfactor.

The Fever can't get too low after this one. Gotta think of it as getting to 2-2. Can't fake urgency so they'll have that upper hand at home. Ominous vibes late tonight though. That crowd died a bit on them when nothing would drop mid fourth. Maybe a knowing lull of resignation. Cool test in gm 4.

Gotta keep it real, I think the Aces are gonna end this in 4. Felt like they figured the Fever offense out a bit in the 4th. The missed FTs didn't hurt but they were dominant late.

Garbage time but that was an amazing pass from Peddy in to Hull on the back door cut

Lol v good comp

NaLyssa Smith is one of those players whose (janky) jumper simply does *not* suggest her level of touch around the rim lol.

Early in this 4th is the first time I've personally *really* felt Clark's absence this playoffs...her range can break a defense out of a hot stretch of clean rotations, and they could use her creativity in the PnR. Ugh Ruocco beat me to it lol

Just the worst, sorry Fever fans

The 1v1 scoring of Evans and Young have been so big for the Aces this playoffs. So key that they have threats to create shots off the dribble other than Gray and Wilson. I feel like that wing scoring element was not there last year nearly to the same extent, or am I trippin?

A'ja said NAH

Review as usual takin way too long but they got that right

The thing is, on plays like this, it genuinely feels like incidental contact but it's tough not to call. Hull's foot went forward and Lloyd essentially went straight up but I think both motions looked natural! By default a defensive foul I guess but should not be flagrant by any means.

Getting a 4th foul on A'ja this early in the 4th is big for the Fever. They should keep going at her regularly for the next several minutes to get that 5th while the game is in the balance. Make her play cautiously.

A couple really nice Mitchell takes tonight that just haven't rolled in for her. Precious few, those are tough early misses.

That's NaLyssa's second *slick* tough finish on the break this series. That euro step last game was filthy.

Aliyah Boston is very good.

Fun first quarter. Fever working defensively, Aces have been decisive on offense. Physical game.

Jackie Young manufactured 3 buckets on her own in the first. Her 1v1 scoring as secondary offensive force under A'ja feels unfair when she's hitting.

Lexie Hull is having a wonderful 1st quarter. Working her ass off on both ends. Hit a vital 3. Taking the right shots.

Outstanding team defense on Kelsey Mitchell by the Aces so far. Fever offense has looked best running through Boston at the elbow or in the high post IMO. Make the help come to her earlier in the possession to open things up at the wing.

As a Fever fan, you gotta be thinking "just get to game 5 any old way and try to steal it."

Fever were intent on trapping Gray on the screens up top in the first few possessions, Aces sent her off ball since and have mixed up who initiates the offense. They've gotten mostly great looks off the actions with Gray on the weak side. Good early adjustment. Mitchell playing Gray well early.

Can't say I love the stranger things Fever fits...they should rock the all red at home

Monica McNutt in the studio is always value added

Tbf some of my openness to short coaching tenures for teams with immediate title aspirations comes from watching the Cowboys wait 3 years then 2 years too long to fire their last 2 HCs lol...but idk when the ceiling needs to be now and you're not hitting it, there isn't always time to wait and see 🤷‍♂️

Was shocked when she checked back in. Tough ass mf.

Lotta capes out there for coach Sandy rn...eyebrow-raising risk for the Liberty to move on from her but I watched more Liberty games than any other team during Brondello's tenure and I have a hunch Kolb's decision is rooted in... 1/3

Sonia Citron, Veronica Burton, and Paige Bueckers in Unrivaled Season 2 is such a big W

Fever got the split. Did their job. Hard to fake urgency. I think they'll play well in Indy.

Up 20 with Chelsea Gray torturing them is a good place to be. I smell some garbage time coming soon.

Looks like the Aces are essentially switching everything on defense and shading Mitchell on drives for most of this game. I couldn't watch game 1 so not sure if it's new, but so far they are holding up pretty well through the mismatches. Fever offense looks strained, working hard for mediocre looks.

A'ja effortlessly staying with Mitchell, forcing a circus shot, then swatting tf out of the 2nd chance was such a flex lol