The Minnesota Lynx return to Target Center tonight in the team's first game back out of the WNBA All Star Break.
"We're in a sprint now," head coach Cheryl Reeve said. "Post=All-Star is usually a sprint to the finish line. Right now that finish line is FIBA because we don't have many games on the other side of FIBA break. So that's what it is, making sure that they understand that if we're not in sprint mode, then obviously we'll lose the race."
The break Reeve mentions a 17-day pause in play the WNBA season will take for the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup. That is from August 31 to September 16, 2026, with a number of WNBA players participating in games.
Tuesday night also marks Napheesa Collier's first home game since returning to the line-up last week. She played her first game just before the All Star break in Seattle, a Lynx win where Collier showed little rust in a 24 point, 10 rebound double-double.
Despite having the best record in the league, even with Collier missing the first half while nursing two ankles back to health after offseason surgery, guard Kayla McBride says there's urgency with the playoffs looming.
"So, I think just finding our rhythm, obviously adding Phee in, getting her getting her acclimated with everybody," McBride explains. "Shout out, she had a great first game, but then Dorka as well. And just getting everybody back, back in the swing of things, and we want to be at our best going into the playoffs."
Toronto Tempo (10-16, 5-8 Eastern Conference) at Minnesota Lynx (22-6, 15-1 Western Conference)
Minneapolis; Tuesday, 7 p.m.
LINE: Lynx -15.5; over/under is 183.5
BOTTOM LINE: Toronto Tempo faces the Minnesota Lynx after Isabelle Harrison scored 26 points in the Tempo's 109-83 loss to the Las Vegas Aces.
The Lynx are 10-4 in home games. Minnesota ranks second in the Western Conference with 25.7 defensive rebounds per game led by Napheesa Collier averaging 9.0.
The Tempo have gone 4-6 away from home. Toronto is seventh in the Eastern Conference with 23.1 defensive rebounds per game led by Harrison averaging 4.6.
Minnesota is shooting 48.0% from the field this season, 1.0 percentage point higher than the 47.0% Toronto allows to opponents. Toronto has shot at a 44.8% rate from the field this season, 2.7 percentage points higher than the 42.1% shooting opponents of Minnesota have averaged.
The two teams match up for the second time this season. The Lynx defeated the Tempo 100-72 in their last matchup on May 22. Maya Caldwell led the Lynx with 16 points, and Kia Nurse led the Tempo with 23 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Natasha Howard is averaging 15.9 points, eight rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.8 steals for the Lynx. Kayla McBride is averaging 24.9 points over the last 10 games.
Laura Juskaite is averaging 9.2 points for the Tempo. Marina Mabrey is averaging 21.8 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Lynx: 8-2, averaging 92.8 points, 32.6 rebounds, 21.7 assists, 9.0 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 88.9 points per game.
Tempo: 2-8, averaging 86.8 points, 31.8 rebounds, 20.8 assists, 5.3 steals and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 46.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 95.0 points.
INJURIES: Lynx: Emma Cechova: out for season (knee).
Tempo: Kiki Rice: out (ankle), Brittney Sykes: out (foot), Nyara Sabally: day to day (ribs).
