Latest news with #AlannaSmith
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Alanna Smith Finds Her 'Home and 'Family' with Minnesota Lynx
Alanna Smith Finds Her 'Home and 'Family' with Minnesota Lynx originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Alanna Smith has worn many hats throughout her WNBA career—spot starter, stretch forward, defensive specialist. But in Minnesota, she's found something more: a clearly defined role on a championship contender, anchored by trust from the coaching staff and a genuine sense of belonging. Advertisement 'It just felt like coming back home to family,' Smith told RG. 'Playing with people that care about you as a player on and off the court. And that you genuinely get along with, too. Every single person involved with the Lynx is great. I've had no issues, and I genuinely enjoy being around the team and staff. And it's great basketball as well—you can't really ask for much more.' Smith joined the Lynx on a two-year, fully guaranteed deal before the 2024 season. Since then, she's emerged as one of the league's most versatile and reliable two-way forwards, earning All-Defensive Second Team honors in 2024 while helping Minnesota reach the WNBA Finals. Now, in her second season, she's taken another leap. Beginning the 2025 season, Smith is averaging 13.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting 59.6% from the field and 47.8% from beyond the arc. Notably, she's taking 4.6 threes per game—up from 3.0 last season—and converting them at an elite rate. 'Cheryl told me at the start of the year she wanted me to shoot more threes,' Smith said. 'And a player never doesn't want to hear that.' Advertisement Smith's ability to stretch the floor has complemented All-WNBA forward Napheesa Collier, who's averaging 26.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.4 steals, solidifying herself as a serious MVP candidate once again. 'When you're playing with someone like Phee, she's the reason you're able to get open shots,' Smith said. 'Everyone's so focused on her… But she's unselfish too. She'll give it up and pitch it out, which is what we need as a team.' Defensively, Smith remains a foundational piece of the Lynx's identity. Whether switching onto guards, protecting the paint, or rotating from the weak side, she's become one of the league's most consistent help defenders. 'There's a couple of us that are the anchors of our defense, especially in help-side,' she explained. 'That's usually me. We're a team that helps a lot, and being able to provide that every single game without fail is what's most important.' Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images Following a 30–10 campaign and a Finals appearance in 2024, Minnesota appears poised for another deep postseason push. Smith, who averaged 10.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and shot nearly 40% from deep last season, is now playing the most efficient basketball of her career. Advertisement She'll be an unrestricted free agent in 2026, but her role and connection to the Lynx suggest there's little desire to part ways. 'As a player, you always want to be in a position where your game speaks for itself,' she said. 'That's all I've tried to do.' And it's speaking loudly. From rim protection to timely three-point shooting to veteran leadership, Smith is doing everything the Lynx need—consistently and quietly—while reinforcing her value as a core piece of a team built on trust. Related: WNBA Head Coach Feels 'Weird' Playing Mercury Without Diana Taurasi This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Lynx vs. Valkyries odds, tips and betting trends - 6/1/2025
Lynx vs. Valkyries odds, tips and betting trends - 6/1/2025 The Minnesota Lynx (6-0) aim to extend a three-game road winning streak when visiting the Golden State Valkyries (2-3) on Sunday, June 1, 2025 at 8:30 p.m. ET. Minnesota were winners on the road over Phoenix 74-71 last time out, and was led by Kayla McBride (20 PTS, 36.4 FG%, 3-7 from 3PT) and Alanna Smith (19 PTS, 4 BLK, 53.3 FG%, 2-6 from 3PT). Golden State won on the road over New York 77-82 last time out, and were led by Janelle Salaun (18 PTS, 13 REB, 36.8 FG%, 3-8 from 3PT) and Monique Billings (10 PTS, 7 REB, 44.4 FG%). Here's everything you need to get ready for Sunday's WNBA game. Watch this game on Fubo! (regional restrictions may apply) Minnesota Lynx vs. Golden State Valkyries odds and betting lines WNBA odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Saturday at 6:05 p.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Spread: Lynx (-9.5) Lynx (-9.5) Over/under: 164.5 164.5 Favorite: Lynx (-450, bet $450 to win $100) Lynx (-450, bet $450 to win $100) Underdog: Valkyries (+350, bet $100 to win $350) Lynx moneyline insights The Lynx have won all six of the games they have been favored on the moneyline this season. Minnesota has played as a moneyline favorite of -450 or shorter in just two games this season and it won both. The Lynx have an implied moneyline win probability of 81.8% in this contest. Minnesota's games have gone over 164.5 points twice this season (over six outings). The average point total in Lynx matchups this year is 161.5, 3.0 fewer points than this game's over/under. Valkyries moneyline insights The Valkyries have entered the game as underdogs five times this season and won twice. Golden State has a record of 1-2 in games where bookmakers have them as underdogs of at least +350 on the moneyline. The sportsbooks' moneyline implies a 22.2% chance of a victory for the Valkyries. Each Valkyries game this season has ended with a combined score under 164.5 points. Golden State's games this season have had an average of 162.9 points, 1.6 fewer points than this game's total. Lynx vs. Valkyries: Live streaming info & game time Game day: Sunday, June 1, 2025 Sunday, June 1, 2025 Game time: 8:30 p.m. ET 8:30 p.m. ET Stadium: Chase Center Chase Center TV channel: FDSN, KPIX+, and KMAX 31 FDSN, KPIX+, and KMAX 31 Live stream: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply) Watch this game on Fubo! (regional restrictions may apply)
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Lynx star Napheesa Collier ruled out of game vs. Mercury with lingering knee injury
On Friday, the Minnesota Lynx will be playing without their biggest star. Lynx forward Napheesa Collier has been ruled out of Friday's matchup against the Phoenix Mercury with a knee injury. Collier, the Lynx's leading scorer by a significant margin, was ruled as a "game-time decision" prior to Friday. The team announced the news shortly before tipoff, with Alanna Smith replacing Collier in the starting lineup in Phoenix. Ahead of the game, Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve told reporters that sitting Collier was "more precautionary," and that Collier had been dealing with the knee injury since 2023. Advertisement Collier, 28, is one of the top scorers in the league, and an early frontrunner for WNBA MVP. She currently leads the league in points per game with 26.5. This story will be updated.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Lynx vs. Mercury odds, tips and betting trends - 5/30/2025
Lynx vs. Mercury odds, tips and betting trends - 5/30/2025 The Phoenix Mercury (4-1) will host the Minnesota Lynx (5-0) after winning four straight home games. It begins at 10 p.m. ET on Friday, May 30, 2025. Minnesota defeated Seattle 82-77 at home last time out, and were led by Courtney Williams (23 PTS, 55.6 FG%) and Alanna Smith (16 PTS, 7 REB, 2 STL, 63.6 FG%, 2-3 from 3PT). Phoenix won at home over Chicago, 94-89, in its last game. Its top scorers were Satou Sabally (20 PTS, 8 REB, 2 STL, 33.3 FG%, 2-8 from 3PT) and Kitija Laksa (18 PTS, 66.7 FG%, 3-6 from 3PT). Read on for everything you need to get ready ahead of Friday's game. Watch this game on Fubo! (regional restrictions may apply) Minnesota Lynx vs. Phoenix Mercury odds and betting lines WNBA odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Thursday at 6:05 p.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Spread: Lynx (-5.5) Lynx (-5.5) Over/under: 159.5 159.5 Favorite: Lynx (-225, bet $225 to win $100) Lynx (-225, bet $225 to win $100) Underdog: Mercury (+185, bet $100 to win $185) Lynx moneyline insights The Lynx have won all five of the games they have been favored on the moneyline this season. Minnesota has played five times as a moneyline favorite with odds of -225 or shorter, and won each game. Based on this contest's moneyline, the Lynx's implied win probability is 69.2%. Minnesota's five games this season have gone over this contest's total of 159.5 points three times. The average total in Lynx games this year is 161.9, 2.4 more than this matchup's over/under. Mercury moneyline insights The Mercury have split the two games they've played as underdogs this season. This season, Phoenix has won one of its two games when it is the underdog by at least +185 on the moneyline. The implied probability of a win by the Mercury based on the moneyline is 35.1%. The Mercury and their opponents have combined to score more than 159.5 points twice this season. The average total for Phoenix's games this season is 159.1 points, 0.4 fewer points than this game's over/under. Lynx vs. Mercury: Live streaming info & game time Game day: Friday, May 30, 2025 Friday, May 30, 2025 Game time: 10 p.m. ET 10 p.m. ET Stadium: PHX Arena PHX Arena TV channel: ION ION Live stream: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply) Watch this game on Fubo! (regional restrictions may apply)
Washington Post
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Lynx beat Wings for 2nd time in 5 days, spoiling homecoming for Bueckers
MINNEAPOLIS — Napheesa Collier had 28 points and eight rebounds to lead the Minnesota Lynx to their second victory over the Dallas Wings in five days, an 85-81 decision that spoiled the homecoming for first overall draft pick Paige Bueckers on Wednesday night. Alanna Smith and Courtney Williams each added 13 points for the Lynx (3-0), who have picked up where they left off last season in the WNBA Finals , where they lost to the New York Liberty in a tense series that went to overtime in the decisive Game 5.
