Souhan: Should Lynx crave a rematch with New York?

The first round of the WNBA playoffs indicated that the league may have entered a new, hypercompetitive, era.

Three of the four series went to, or are headed to, a decisive third game.

The Minnesota Lynx were the only team to sweep, and they trailed by wide margins in both of their victories.

Wednesday night, the Lynx were down 17 to the Golden State Valkyries in the third quarter, and rallied to win, 75-74. The Lynx will play on Sunday at Target Center against the winner of Friday’s game between defending champion New York and a Phoenix team that aggressively rebuilt with winning veterans.

This would have sounded ridiculous a few months ago, but the Lynx will be better off playing New York, even if league Commissioner Cathy Engelbert favors dresses featuring the New York City skyline.

The Liberty have all of their key players back from their championship squad, but did not impress this season. And their star, Breanna Stewart, is dealing with a knee injury. She was not a certainty to start on Wednesday. She did play, but managed just six points in 20 minutes.

The Lynx would also have the emotional advantage against the Liberty, because the Lynx felt they were robbed by officials in the deciding game of the Finals last year, and they were right — although poor shooting also doomed them in that game.

Depends on how you view their dominance.

The Lynx ran away with the regular-season title. They ranked first in virtually every important team statistic, and their star, Napheesa Collier, dueled with established superstar A’ja Wilson for the titles of league MVP and best player in the world.

The Lynx’s excellence also meant that they spent the last couple weeks of the season resting players and playing meaningless games. Now they will have a break before beginning the semifinals.

If you like the idea of a rested team, the Lynx have a massive advantage over the field.

If you like the idea of tough games sharpening or toughening a team, then the Lynx have much to prove.

That is, the Lynx haven’t played in a must-win game unless you count this year’s Commissioner’s Cup championship. Indiana defeated the Lynx, 74-59, in what might have been the low point of an otherwise exemplary season for Minnesota.

Is this Lynx team ready for a tough, physical, series against proven players?

That’s what they’ll face in the next round.

They’ll either have a rematch with Jonquel Jones, the reigning Finals MVP, or will have to face a fascinating combination of tough, physical players — including Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally, DeWanna Bonner and Kahleah Copper — on the Mercury roster.

Wednesday night, the Lynx were remarkably passive early in the game. Maybe that should be expected when a superior team is playing an upstart in a fervent road environment, but Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve didn’t sound happy about it.

After establishing themselves as the best team in the league for the last season-and-a-half, the Lynx have only one remaining that matters — winning the title.

Depending on your perspective, you could call this current iteration of their team either well-rested, or untested.

I think the Lynx, with their persistent excellence, have earned the benefit of the doubt.