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Alanna Smith battles a back injury and even helps the Minnesota Lynx reach the WNBA Finals

Vaseline October 21, 2024

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — It wasn’t always pretty, but Alanna Smith battled a back injury and made a big difference Friday night as the Minnesota Lynx tied the WNBA Finals by defeating the New York Liberty.

Smith, Minnesota’s 6-foot-4 center, fell hard on her back in Minnesota’s Game 3 loss on Wednesday. She returned to play but was clearly in distress and her status for Friday’s Game 4 was uncertain.

But when the starting lineups were announced, Smith stood in her usual spot, right where she stood for 39 of Minnesota’s 40 regular-season games this year.

The first results were not exactly promising. Smith missed three layups in the first quarter and looked hesitant against New York’s Jonquel Jones and Nyara Sabally. But she ultimately gave the Lynx 30 minutes — more than her regular-season average of 26.5 — and her perseverance was rewarded with 12 points, seven rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot.

Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said the team expected that from Smith, who was named to the WNBA’s all-defensive second team this year.

“All season (Smith has) been in those positions for us, and we appreciate her ability to turn around and do what her team expected of her,” Reeve said. “It is important that she is on the floor for us.”

After Minnesota led by one at halftime, Smith opened the second half with a 3-pointer on Minnesota’s first possession. She added a corner 3 that capped a 6-0 run by the Lynx to tie the game after falling behind by six midway through the third quarter.

Smith hit another key basket when Courtney Williams found her for an open layup, giving Minnesota a 74-72 lead. And she was a big part of a swarm defense that helped New York stars frustrate Breanna Stewart (5 for 21 from the floor, 0 for 4 on 3-pointers) and Sabrina Ionescu (5 for 15, 0 for 5 from beyond the arc).

“She fights (Jones) all the time, and JJ is not an easy task for anyone. And she’s a little bit undersized and she’s fighting, making things as difficult as possible,” said Lynx forward Bridget Carleton, whose two free throws with 2 seconds left broke an 80-80 tie.