Connecticut Sun vs Minnesota Lynx Starting Lineups and Depth Charts for Game 1, 2024 WNBA Playoffs Semifinals (Sept. 29)

The Minnesota Lynx look to get off to a good start in their quest for their fifth WNBA championship. They face a dangerous Connecticut Sun in the best-of-five series semifinal round in Minneapolis. With the Sun holding a 2-1 advantage over the Lynx in their regular season matchups, this promises to be a fascinating contest.

Minnesota and Connecticut both secured homecourt advantage after finishing as top-three seeds, with each team coming away with a 2-0 series sweep.

The Lynx swept the Phoenix Mercury in their best-of-three first-round series with 102-95 and 101-88 victories respectively. Napheesa Collier has been by far and away the top performer for the Lynx this season, with the forward scoring 38 points in the first game and 42 points in the second of their first-round series.

Meanwhile, the Sun came out victorious at home against the Caitlin Clark-led Indiana Fever, securing a 93-69 blowout win and a close 87-81 victory to complete the sweep. Marina Mabrey emerged as an unlikely hero in the playoffs, averaging a team-high 22 points per game so far.

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Connecticut Sun vs Minnesota Lynx starting lineups and depth charts

Connecticut Sun starting lineup and depth chart

Tiffany Mitchell is the only absentee for the Sun as the veteran guard will miss out through illness. Tyasha Harris is a doubt after sustaining an ankle injury, however, renewed hopes that she could just be fit to play a part, though substantial minutes look almost impossible.

Coach Stephanie White is expected to name the same starting five as she did in both games against the Fever. Marina Mabrey, DeWanna Bonner, Alyssa Thomas, Brionna Jones, and DiJonai Carrington will likely take the court together.

Guards	Forwards	Centers
DiJonai Carrington	DeWanna Bonner	Brionna Jones
Marina Mabrey	Alyssa Thomas	Olivia Nelson-Ododa
Tyasha Harris	Caitlin Bickle	Astou Ndour-Fall
Tiffany Mitchell
Veronica Burton
Celeste Taylor

Minnesota Lynx starting lineup and depth chart

The Lynx are far better off than their opponents in terms of absentees. Only Cecilia Zandalasini has been listed as questionable through injury. However, she has not been ruled out and could still make the squad on Sunday.

It is likely an unchanged starting five will be named with Cheryl Reeve using Napheesa Collier, Bridget Carleton, Alanna Smith, Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams.

Guard	Forward	Center
Kayla McBride	Napheesa Collier	Dorkha Juhasz
Courtney Williams	Myisha Hines-Allen
Natisha Hiedeman	Alanna Smith
Diamond Miller	Alissa Pili
Bridget Carleton	Sika Kone
Cecilia Zandalasini

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Connecticut Sun vs Minnesota Lynx: What to expect

The game will be very tight as both teams have plenty of firepower. The battle in the paint between Minnesota's Napheesa Collier and Alanna Smith and Connecticut's Alyssa Thomas and Brionna Jones will be interesting. It wouldn’t be a surprise if both pair form solid partnerships throughout the series.

Overall, the Lynx made the better impression at home despite trailing 1-2 in the regular season head-to-head and the advantage probably goes to the hosts.