Sometimes, the favorites don’t always have it easy, and the Minnesota Lynx learned that the hard way against the Connecticut Sun. Going into the playoff matchup, the No.2 seeded Lynx were the favorites. With a deeper roster and star power of the Defensive Player of the Year, Napheesa Collier on their side, everyone thought they’d coast to victory over the Sun. But the unexpected happened, as Alyssa Thomas & Co. surprised everyone.

Alyssa Thomas had a clear answer when asked about her team being overlooked once again. “It’s not unfamiliar to us. It happens to us each and every playoff,” she said. She asserted that the team doesn’t let that affect them, as they’re fully aware of their achievements and how they perform. “We know what we’re capable of,” she stated confidently. And no external opinion can take that away from them.

Despite being the favorites on paper, the Lynx fell to the Sun in a nail-biting Game 1 of the semis on Sunday. Marina Mabrey stepped up for the Sun, pouring in 20 points, while Alyssa Thomas almost notched a triple-double with 17 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds. On the flip side, the Lynx was dependent on Napheesa Collier, who just snagged the title of the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.

And there was no doubt she absolutely had an amazing season. But the most memorable one was her 42-point outing in Game 2 against the Phoenix Mercury. It all added up to the hype that she could take down the opponents. But the Sun didn’t buy it! They crafted a smart game plan that countered the Lynx’s strengths in the most effective way.

Alyssa Thomas & the Sun Shine Bright Despite the Odds

Despite the decent success over the last few years, the Connecticut Sun has been a surprise package this season. Even though they have entered the playoffs every year since 2017, many still don’t expect much from them. The reason? Maybe it’s because they lack those big-name superstars. But this doesn’t take a toll on them at all as they continue to prove themselves by clinching some of the toughest wins.

Proving the team’s potential once again, they secured the third spot on the standings with a 28-12 record. With a 70% win rate, they shined both at home, boasting a solid 14-6 record. The team averaged 85.3 points per game while allowing 80.1 points. And undoubtedly, Alyssa Thomas was the backbone with 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game.

Along with her, Tiffany Hayes contributed and racked up an average of 12.9 points per game. The Sun established themselves as the ultimate defenders with 8.3 steals per game. Before killing it in the playoffs, they wrapped up one of their most successful seasons by winning 7 of their last 10 games.

All in all, this portrays that they may not always boast the biggest names, but they surely know how to come out on top, and that’s what really matters. The Sun thrives on teamwork instead of spotlighting star players. Despite again and again being tagged ‘underrated,’ they’ve come to prove their worth. At this moment, Lynx might be surprised but The Sun saw the win coming from a mile away.