“More than disappointed, I’m pi-sed at how the team allowed the Liberty to go up 17 again.” Cheryl Reeve’s frustration was understandable as the Minnesota Lynx’s performance in Game 2 unfolded similarly to Game 1, with the team quickly falling behind in the first quarter. Moreover, this time, the Liberty’s defense effectively neutralized the Lynx’s offense as Breanna Stewart made her defensive presence felt on the court, while the Lynx’s wall, Napheesa Collier, struggled to perform at her usual level.

With the reigning Defensive Player of the Year title to her name and a standout performance in Game 1, Collier was expected to continue that momentum into the next game. Although she had a solid outing, scoring 16 points—making her the top scorer for the Lynx—and grabbing eight rebounds, there was a glaring concern: she failed to block any shots from the Liberty.

This was a significant drop from her six critical blocks in the previous game, which played a vital role in the Lynx’s comeback and stifled the Liberty’s offense. While Collier did manage to record four steals, surpassing her previous game total, the absence of blocks was a setback for Cheryl Reeve’s team. Compounding their troubles was the surprising performance of Breanna Stewart, a forward not typically known for her defensive skills or ability to snatch the ball from opponents.

Stewie’s standout play further diminished the Lynx’s chances of evening the score on the tally. The Liberty forward had already posed an offensive nightmare for the Lynx’s defense with 21 points, and her defensive contributions only dampened Coach Cheryl Reeve’s hopes of turning the tide. Interestingly, one of her teammates had already acknowledged her defensive capabilities, sharing insights into what enables her to excel on that end of the floor.

Breanna Stewart’s defensive threat serves her an advantage over DPOY Napheesa Collier

Just hours before the tip-off for Game 2, a video popped up on X featuring Sabrina Ionescu chatting with reporters. During this casual conversation, one reporter asked if she ever tried to go head-to-head with Breanna Stewart or make any attempts against her. Ionescu didn’t hesitate to respond, saying, “I don’t. Not even the floaters.” Well, Ionescu’s reluctance to take on Stewart makes sense, especially considering her impressive stats from Game 2 where she recorded seven steals, five defensive rebounds, and a block.

However, Sab also reflected on her early career experiences of going up against Stewart when she played for the Seattle Storm just a couple of years ago.

“I remember like being like early on in my career, playing against her and she would switch it off a lot of the time. And it was like, just don’t know what to do because she’s able to use her height so well to make you, kind of beat you into a shot and then be able to deflect it or, you know, make you think that you have a look at the rim and then kind of come out of nowhere and block it and we’re now on the other side of it, but being able to watch how she just rim protects is amazing,” stated the Liberty guard earlier.

Stewart’s impressive height of 6’3″ gives her a remarkable wingspan, making it challenging for opponents to shoot over her and providing her with a significant edge in defense. In contrast, Napheesa Collier, despite her reputation for defensive prowess, lacks the same height advantage as Stewart. As Game 3 approaches, set to take place at Cheryl Reeve’s home court, Target Center, on Wednesday, Reeve knows she must address this mismatch. It’s crucial for Collier to step up and find a way to counter Stewart’s impact on the game.