No Longer The Weakest Lynx

Image via WikipediaThe Minnesota Lynx are off to their best season in their history.  After defeating the San Antonio Silver Stars 63-60 at Target Center Thursday on a game-winning shot by Taj McWilliams-Franklin with 1.3 seconds remaining, the Lynx have won eight consecutive games (a team record), and lead the WNBA's West division with a 15-4 record.  They are on track to make the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

For most of their history, the Lynx have been lost in the shuffle of the other Minnesota pro sports teams, mainly because they've been pretty mediocre on the court.  Thanks to last-place finishes, they've been able to land the number-one pick in the WNBA draft, which they've used to choose Seimone Augustus, Candice Wiggins and Maya Moore in consecutive years.  They also were able to acquire veterans McWilliams-Franklin and Lindsay Whalen, who helped put the University of Minnesota women's basketball program on the map by leading them to a Women's Final Four appearance.

The Lynx are also overlooked because, among other things, they play in a struggling women's pro basketball league (now in its 15th season) that owes its existence to the NBA and plays indoors during the summer.  Today the WNBA has 12 franchises, and almost as many have come and gone before them (Detroit Shock, Cleveland Rockers, etc.).  Unless you're a diehard WNBA fan, you've probably missed out on seeing past stars such as Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes and Cynthia Cooper.  They've paved the way for current stars such as Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird and Candace Parker.

Considering how the other pro sports teams in Minnesota have been faring this year, the Lynx have finally made women's pro basketball worth watching.  Now if they can only get past the first round . . .