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Aug 25, 2023

Rookie center Dorka Juhasz comes up big to cap Lynx’s 87

For much of Sunday’s WNBA game, rookie Lynx center Dorka Juhász was getting educated by an opponent with 14 years of experience. Obviously, things were learned. With the Lynx leading by two points, it

For much of Sunday’s WNBA game, rookie Lynx center Dorka Juhász was getting educated by an opponent with 14 years of experience.

Obviously, things were learned.

With the Lynx leading by two points, it was Juhász coming up clutch at the defensive end to secure Minnesota’s 87-83 road victory over the Connecticut Sun on Sunday afternoon.

“We were riding Dorka pretty hard with her defense this game, her defense on (DeWanna) Bonner where she’s jumping, leaving her feet and just getting schooled by Bonner. We needed a play and she felt like she redeemed herself. She really was challenged by that,” said coach Cheryl Reeve.

Out of a timeout with 11.7 seconds left, Bonner, who led Connecticut with 31 points, was one on one against Juhász. Bonner dribbled to the right side and let go with what likely would have been a game-winning three-pointer.

Juhász, a 6-foot-5 rookie who played two years at the University of Connecticut, kept her feet on the ground, and had her arms outstretched to get a piece of the shot that missed well short and, appropriately, landed in the arms of Lynx teammate Jessica Shepard.

Shepard had 12 points and 14 rebounds — 13 defensive — in her third game back after missing 14 games with a non-COVID illness.

Her two free throws in the final second assured Minnesota’s second straight nail-biting road win against one of the top teams in the WNBA’s Eastern Conference. Both came without all-star Napheesa Collier, out for another week or so with an ankle injury.

Victorious in four of its past five games, the Lynx (13-13) held on to beat New York 88-83 on Friday as Diamond Miller hit a clutch shot late. The Liberty (18-6) and Sun (18-7) are second and third in the WNBA standings.

“It’s huge. It makes minutes harder for the coaches, and that’s what we’re going through right now to find combinations. It’s nothing but good for us. … It’s anyone’s turn now, and people step up and take those opportunities,” Reeve said.

Kayla McBride led five Minnesota players in double-figure scoring with 19 points, Lindsay Allen tied a season-high with 16, and Aerial Powers added 14 on 6-for-8 shooting as the Lynx shot a season-high 57.4 percent from the field.

Powers and McBride were made available postgame, but took no questions about the game, rather focusing any verbalizing on league travel, especially the lack of charter flights.

“We’ve both been in college programs where we did fly charter, so when you come to the WNBA, you expect it to be the same,” said McBride, who indicated it’s something the league needs to address before expansion. “… We want the league to grow, but in order to do that we have to prioritize things that make us most effective on the court, and I think that starts with charters.”

The Lynx and Sun will play again Tuesday in Connecticut.

Alyssa Thomas recorded her fourth triple-double of the season and eighth overall for the Sun, finishing with 17 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists.

In a game with plenty of questionable calls, Connecticut was 24 of 27 from the free-throw line; Minnesota 11 of 16.

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