same result.
The coaches tweaked their line ups a tad, and got mixed results (Maya Moore’s Routine Layup That Shifted Momentum In The Minnesota Lynx’ 2011 WNBA Finals Victory). Minnesota and Atlanta put their defense shoes on and kept the scoring low. Unfortunately for fans who wanted to see this fun match up continue for two more games, Atlanta couldn’t pull off the win, and they suffered the second Finals sweep of their short existence.
“When it comes to this point, it just comes down to who makes the best plays,” Dream guard Lindsey Harding said. “It was close; they just made more plays.”
It’s almost unfair to call it a “sweep.” Writes Mechelle:
Before a crowd of 11,543 Friday, Atlanta almost engineered a fourth-quarter rally to send the series to a Game 4. The Dream pulled within one point on Iziane Castro Marques’s 3-pointer with 1 minute, 17 seconds left, as the arena went bonkers. But the Lynx held off the Dream by making enough of their free throws, combined with some missed shots from Atlanta.
There were way too many of those Friday for the Dream, who were 27-of-78 from the field (34.6 percent). Atlanta took 17 more shots than Minnesota (26-of-61) but simply didn’t make enough of them.
Say James Bowman: All that Reigns in Atlanta is Woe
For Atlanta’s fans, coming to terms with a 73-67 Game Three loss in the WNBA Finals on their home court to the Minnesota Lynx – the third of three losses to the new WNBA champions – will be a difficult process.
I’ve already gone through the classic Kubler-Ross stages myself.
As for Los Lynx: Title was a long time coming for Lynx – Franchise that once failed to reach the playoffs for six straight seasons is now a champ
Seimone Augustus knew the salt water would come. She’d held in so much over the years, persevered through disappointments, kept her head up during emotional and physical pain.
This season, as it became clear that things really were coming together for her Minnesota Lynx, Augustus sometimes let herself picture a perfect ending.
“Just envisioning it and imagining it while sitting around my house, I’d get teary-eyed,” Augustus said before Game 3 of the WNBA Finals. “My mom always said, ‘Never cry over basketball.’ Because she always looked at it like recreation. I’ve told her, ‘Mom, it’s more than that.’
“It’s my career. It’s almost like my life — this is what I eat, sleep, breathe.”
And Friday, it was indeed what she cried about — but they were the happiest tears she has ever shed.
At espnW, Joanne Gerstner writes: Rookie and veteran share championship moment
Minnesota Lynx starting center Taj McWilliams-Franklin didn’t want to let this emotional moment pass without letting rookie guard Maya Moore know how special she is.
The Lynx had just won the franchise’s first WNBA title, taking Game 3, 73-67, over the Dream for the series sweep at Philips Arena Friday. Joyous pandemonium reigned, with Lynx players dancing, hugging and screaming for joy over the din of the celebratory music.
McWilliams-Franklin grabbed Moore and hugged her, then whispered in her ear:
“Your heart is right. You have right attitude, humility. You are a sweet kid, raised properly; all these things follow good kids. This is just the start of many titles for you, enjoy this,” McWilliams-Franklin recounted.
What are the Five things we learned from the WNBA Finals?
Key phrase at the end of SBNation Minnesota? “We hope to expand our coverage of the Lynx significantly going into the 2012 WNBA season.”
Jim Souhan writes: Lynx win a title, redemption and new credibility
They developed into the ideal group to promote their sport as well as win a title: A physical, defensive-minded team that could run a fast break featuring behind-the-back dribbles and reverse layups.
“I’m just glad that we were able to finish it off playing Lynx basketball,” Moore said.
Lynx basketball. It wasn’t too long ago that “Lynx basketball” was a punchline in the Twin Cities. Friday night, that phrase became a beacon of excellence, and perhaps even hope.
Oh, and it looks like Tim got there:
It had been 20 years of waiting for a professional championship to return to Minnesota.
What were a few more minutes?
The Minnesota Lynx on Friday night waited like antsy children on Christmas morning to bust loose and celebrate the end of a two-decade championship drought. Someone was missing from the celebratory gathering, however, and team protocol demanded they wait until everyone was assembled.
When coach Cheryl Reeve finally arrived, the showering of champagne began.
I’m sure fans are already planning to call in sick: Champion Lynx arriving home this afternoon, parade planned for Tuesday
Okay. How long until the State Farm Tipoff?
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