Alanna

Smith

Having struggled and only played 12 minutes in Friday’s Game 3 defeat, Smith was better on Sunday despite the result. The complete stat line was a fitting conclusion to the Lynx forward’s season, as she was productive across the board on most nights and shared Defensive Player of the Year honors with Las Vegas’ A’ja Wilson. Minnesota’s top eight players in minutes played this season will be unrestricted free agents this offseason, including Smith. One would think that the Lynx will do all they can to keep the core intact, hoping to take another shot at winning the franchise’s fourth WNBA title and first since 2017.

Williams played at an incredibly high level on Tuesday night where she was three rebounds and an assist off a triple-double. Her mid-range pull-ups fell and she distributed the ball well to Kayla McBride, Napheesa Collier and Alanna Smith. Williams has historically been one of the better rebounding guards in the league as she uses her impressive vertical leap to crash the glass. But her downfall was the seven turnovers her play produced, three of which happened in the third quarter when the Mercury outscored the Lynx 22-14 as they mounted their comeback after they were down by as many as 20 points on Tuesday night.

Wilson made history on Sunday, becoming the first WNBA player to ever become a four-time league MVP. She first won the award in 2020, and then again in 2022 and 2024 before averaging 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.3 blocks per game to earn the honor for the 2025 season. The two-time WNBA champion was also recently recognized as a Co-Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY), sharing the award this season with Minnesota’s Alanna Smith. Wilson and the Aces will take the floor on Sunday for their seventh straight semifinal appearance, as they host the Fever in Game 1.

For the first time in WNBA history, two players have shared the award that annually goes to the league’s best defender. Wilson, who also won Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and 2023, averaged 10.2 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 2.3 blocked shots per game. As for Smith, who averaged 5.1 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.9 blocks per game, this is the first time she’s won this award. Smith and Wilson each received 29 votes, with Seattle’s Gabby Williams finishing third. Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas and Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier rounded out the top five. While Smith and the Lynx have already advanced to the semifinals of the WNBA Playoffs, Wilson and the Aces need a win over Seattle on Thursday to do the same.

While Smith did not have her best night shooting the basketball, she did record a complete stat line in Tuesday’s loss to the Fever. Her averages have dipped slightly in multiple categories this season, but the blocked shots have not. One of the WNBA’s best defenders, Smith heads into Thursday’s regular-season finale averaging a career-best two blocks per game. She’s averaged at least 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks in three straight seasons and should be on the short list of candidates for Defensive Player of the Year.

Without Alanna Smith (rest) on Saturday, Shepard will earn her 11th start of the season for the Lynx. The fifth-year forward will provide Minnesota’s opening lineup with rebounding, playmaking, and interior scoring — she’s shooting a career-high 63.0 percent from the field, while her eight double-doubles on the season are also a career best. The Lynx have already clinched the top playoff spot, so their approach down the stretch of the season could differ from what we’ve seen from them throughout the season. Nevertheless, they’ll look to secure their 33rd win of the season on Saturday.

Smith is a later scratch for the Lynx’s Saturday night game against the Valkyries. Smith, who plays an undersized center for the Lynx, has shown how much of a toll that has taken during the regular season. During multiple games this season Smith has been thrown to the ground and often winces in pain. And somehow she gets back up and continues playing. With the No.1 seed and home court advantage locked up for the Lynx, it makes sense for head coach Cheryl Reeve to give Smith some rest and preserve her before the playoffs begin. Expect Jessica Shepard to pick up the start and take Smith’s place in the Lynx’s lineup alongside Napheesa Collier in the front court. With Smith unavailable, expect more meaningful bench minutes from Maria Kliundikova.

McBride returned to the Lynx lineup after sitting out Monday’s win over Dallas. Minnesota was without one of its rotation regulars, as DiJonai Carrington was out due to a shoulder injury. Unfortunately, the starters struggled to get much going on either end of the floor. Alanna Smith (13/4/2 with one three-pointer) and Bridget Carleton (9/3/1/1 with three three-pointers) were the only starters to shoot over 50 percent from the field, and the 97 points were the most Minnesota has allowed in a game this season. However, there should not be too much concern, as the Lynx have already locked in the top seed for the playoffs.

Minnesota clinched home-court advantage in the first round of the WNBA Playoffs with its win on Saturday, and a balanced offensive effort was the reason. Smith was one of five double-digit scorers for the team with the league’s best record, ending a run in which she scored 10 points or less in six of seven games. Smith’s 18 points were the most she’s scored since dropping 25 in an August 8 win over the Mystics. She averaged 8.7 points on 48 percent shooting in the seven games that followed. The Lynx don’t consistently look to Smith for high-scoring nights, but Saturday’s performance was a reminder of what she’s capable of doing.

With Napheesa Collier still out and Courtney Williams playing limited minutes on the second night of a back-to-back, the scoring load fell on McBride. She attempted the most shots on Friday night that she has all season, but also scored efficiently hitting over 50% of her shots. She scored from all three levels, hitting four three-pointers in addition to a bunch of mid-range jumpers near the free throw line and a couple of finger roll layups at the rim. Behind the 10 assists from teammate Jessica Shepard, who stole the show with her historic triple-double, McBride had the second most assists for the Lynx on Friday night. Her six assists were to four different teammates. She found Natisha Hiedeman running the floor in transition, Maria Kliundikova rolling to the basket, Alanna Smith on a kick-out three-pointer and Shepard diving to the basket on a slip.