Lynx Host Tempo Tonight With Winning Streak on the Line

Detroit Lakes, MN (KDLM) – The Minnesota Lynx go for their eighth straight win tonight when they host the Toronto Tempo at Target Center.

Tip off is set for 7:00 p.m. It’s the first half of a home and home between the two clubs. They meet again Thursday, July 30th, in Toronto, also at 7:00 p.m. Central.

Minnesota comes in at 22-6, the best record in the WNBA and two and a half games clear of Golden State atop the Western Conference. The Lynx haven’t lost since July 6th, when Connecticut edged them 90-89 at Target Center. Since then they’ve won seven in a row, including a road sweep in Seattle last week.

The bigger story for Minnesota is who’s back on the floor. Napheesa Collier returned July 22nd at Seattle after missing the season’s first 27 games recovering from offseason surgery on both ankles. She didn’t take long to look like herself, putting up 24 points and 10 rebounds in an 86-76 win.

“It’s kind of fitting that No. 24 scored 24 points in her return,” head coach Cheryl Reeve said afterward. “I liked that a lot.”

Collier’s return gives Minnesota a matchup problem that Toronto will have to solve in a hurry. Doubling Collier inside opens looks for All Stars Kayla McBride and Olivia Miles on the perimeter. Playing it straight leaves Collier one on one in the paint. McBride scored 20 in the Seattle win, Miles added 13 points and six assists, and Natasha Howard chipped in 11 points and five offensive rebounds.

Toronto arrives at 10-16, fifth in the Eastern Conference and reeling. The Tempo have dropped seven of their last eight. They last played July 20th at home, a 109-83 loss to Las Vegas in which Isabella Harrison scored 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Marina Mabrey added 14 points and five assists. The eight days off do give Toronto a rest advantage most opponents don’t get against a Lynx team playing this well.

The two teams have met once already this season. Minnesota beat Toronto 100-72 at Target Center on May 21st, a game in which the Lynx bench scored 37 points and Maya Caldwell led all reserves with 16.

The Tempo are one of two expansion clubs that joined the league this season along with the Portland Fire. Toronto is the WNBA’s 14th franchise and its first based outside the United States. The team plays its home games at Coca Cola Coliseum and is coached by two time WNBA champion Sandy Brondello.

Minnesota has 12 games left on the regular season schedule before the playoffs, with a home date against Indiana on Sunday, August 2nd, following the Toronto series.