The Minnesota Lynx have been no strangers to success in the WNBA, but their 2024 season has left fans and analysts wondering if they’ve plateaued. Despite making the playoffs, the New York Liberty (3-2) bested the Lynx in the finals, leaving them as the runner-up, which could have been their fifth WNBA title. Determined to reclaim their spot as perennial title contenders, the Lynx made a bold offseason move, hiring high-profile coaches to revamp their strategies and instill a fresh vision that has garnered attention from rival athletes also.
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In a succinct yet impactful post on Threads, Erica Wheeler the highest-paid player of the rival team Indiana Fever shared a one-word reaction to the Lynx’s announcement: “Minnesota.” The post, widely interpreted as an acknowledgment of the Lynx’s ambitious plans, highlights the mutual respect and rivalry between the two franchises.
The Lynx’s decision to bring in two new coaches signals a commitment to addressing their weaknesses. To help head coach Cheryl Reeve with her staff, the Lynx organization added franchise legend Lindsay Whalen as an assistant coach and also added former Washington Mystics head coach Eric Thibault as associate head coach.
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“We worked hard to put our best foot forward for [our players] because we continue to have big goals for this group. I think this staff is well-positioned to help us get there,” said head coach Reeve (as per ESPN).
The Lynx hope these additions will enhance their roster’s cohesion and elevate players like Napheesa Collier, who has been the cornerstone of their offense If executed well, the new coaching hires could transform the Lynx into a more balanced and formidable squad, setting the stage for a deeper playoff run in 2025.
“She was really supportive. Always congratulating after a good game, or saying we got this after a loss… just really had that supportive role this whole time,” said Napheesa Collier about coach Whalen (as per ESPN).
Now coming to Wheeler, she joined the Indiana Fever in 2023 and has become a cornerstone for the franchise. Her 2024 salary, reported at $444,308, underscores her value as both a leader and a playmaker. However, this season the 33-year-old wasn’t able to show her elite performance as she averaged 3.6 PPG, and 1.4 RPG per game in 39 games that she played. This performance can be related to the frequent injuries that she succumbed to during the season.
As the Fever aim to climb the standings, Wheeler’s response to the Lynx’s coaching hires reflects the competitive spirit fueling their rivalry. However, what was the major injury that the point guard had to face during the last season?
The major injury that Erica Wheeler got during last season
The 2024 season has not been kind to Indiana Fever’s Erica Wheeler. Known for her dynamic playmaking and scoring ability, Wheeler has struggled to find her rhythm this year. As mentioned earlier, she was only able to average 3.6 PPG, and 1.4 RPG per game in 39 games that she played. The main reason that can be speculated to block her performance was her constant injuries, however, one injury stood out of all during the end of the season.
In a tense matchup against the Connecticut Sun, Wheeler’s desperation to contribute culminated in a frightening moment. Late in the second quarter of the game, she launched herself onto the courtside photographers in an attempt to score a buzzer-beater. She was down on the floor for a couple of minutes but got up on her own and went to the locker room while holding her hand.
The 33-year-old took a bit of rest and entered the court during the third quarter and was only able to score 2 points that night. Now in the end it can be said, that for a player seeking redemption, this setback can be a booster for her in the upcoming season and will definitely motivate her to have a better stat line.
Written by
Edited by
Cherry Sharma