Since the Lynx first began their nearly annual trip to the WNBA Finals in 2011, they never have lost more than four games at home in a season. They've gone 16-1 once, 15-2 four times, 14-3, 13-4.
But, with seven home games left this regular season, in a reflection of the up-and-down nature of the Lynx, they've already lost four heading into Sunday's game with the Connecticut Sun at Target Center.
The Lynx (12-9) have gone 9-3 since starting 3-6. But they've lost three of their past five overall and are 6-4 at home.
They've beaten Los Angeles, Dallas twice and first-place Seattle at home, but lost to last-place Indiana and under .500 Las Vegas, too.
So, after the loss Friday, coach Cheryl Reeve was asked if she had a handle on her team yet.
"Everyone who has been a part of this team this year has seen this before,'' Reeve said. "So, yeah, I know exactly what we have. Exactly. It doesn't feel very good to fight through it, to stay in it. I don't know that we're mentally tough enough, in games like these.''
There's no question the difference between a win and a loss is as tight as ever in a WNBA where the top six teams — the Lynx were sixth — were within three games of each other into Saturday's games.
That means better attention to detail is needed. And, as Reeve suggested, perhaps a little more toughness in the face of adversity. Reeve said Friday her team didn't do a good enough job setting screens, being aggressive on the perimeter, playing around center Sylvia Fowles — who was having one Aces player after another run at her — instead of trying to force the ball to her.
