Lynx Shoot For 4th WNBA Title In 6 Years
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Minnesota Lynx open the regular season in just 11 days, in search of their fourth WNBA title in six seasons.
That's an incredible level of consistency when it comes to winning. But when it comes to the Lynx, it's just what's expected.
The Lynx are now at a level where anything less than league titles isn't good enough. Just imagine what it's like to play in an organization where the standards are so high.
"Ah, it's good. You know I went to UConn right?," Renee Montgomery said.
Having standards that high is not for the faint of heart. It takes a certain kind of player to thrive in that environment.
"You can't just casually come into an environment like this. You have to come in having your mind ready, you have to come in having your body ready, your emotions ready, you have to be willing to take that criticism, you have to be willing to put in the extra work," Maya Moore said.
"I do think that you have to be mentally tough. Especially on a team that's so talented, where you know if you mess up, there's somebody that can step right in and take your spot," Montgomery said. "I think that it makes you stay sharp and it keeps you on your toes, which is a good thing. It's a competitive environment and I think that's great."
Not unlike the UConn, where Renee Montgomery and Maya Moore both played, the Lynx attribute their consistent success to their culture. A "Culture of Winning" is not just a catchphrase, but a tangible thing.
"It doesn't just happen with two people. It happens when a lot of people buy into the vision and buy into the values that a winning culture has. And that's just unselfish play, the work ethic, the discipline," Moore said.
"See the thing about Minnesota is, they have that standard, because it's achievable also," Montgomery said. The coaching staff, they're not happy with three. Coach Reeve, you would never even know she's won a championship the way her drive in practice is. I love that about us."