“We played Lynx basketball tonight, and it was nice to get back to that. I damn near guaranteed you that we would play the defense that we played.”

After leading the Minnesota Lynx to their first WNBA Finals appearance in seven years, Coach Cheryl Reeve delivered a powerful message about the team’s aspirations.

While expressing joy over their achievement, Reeve emphasized that they are not merely satisfied with making it to the championship game.

The Lynx celebrated a significant achievement on Tuesday night by securing their place in the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2017. The Lynx won over the Connecticut Sun with a score of 88-77 in a thrilling semifinal Game 5 at the Target Center, finishing the series 3-2.

As the final buzzer sounded, marking the Lynx’s advancement to the finals, Reeve addressed her players, stating, “We’re happy to be in the finals, but we’re not going to be just happy to be there.”

heryl Reeve’s words underscore the Lynx’s high expectations and ambition. The Lynx’s journey to the WNBA Finals is a remarkable comeback for the franchise, which has experienced significant changes over the past few years.

After a successful run that included four championships in seven seasons from 2011 to 2017, the team faced the retirement of several key players, including Lindsay Whalen, Maya Moore and Rebekkah Brunson.

Despite these challenges, Reeve has successfully guided the team to reclaim its place among the league’s elite.

In her postgame remarks following the Game 5 victory over the Sun, Reeve said, “We played Lynx basketball tonight, and it was nice to get back to that. I damn near guaranteed you that we would play the defense that we played.”