MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — Lynx fans are gearing up for what they hope is a deep playoff run.
Sunday afternoon, fans filled Target Center for Game 1 of the 2024 WNBA playoffs as the Minnesota Lynx faced off against the Phoenix Mercury.
"I'm excited for them to win," said 9-year-old Celia Johnson of Minneapolis.
Abbi and Brad Palsma recently moved from Los Angeles to Minneapolis and Sunday's playoff opener was their first Lynx game.
"I'm buying a t-shirt today because I'm going to be a Lynx fan from here on out," Abbi said. "I think it's just amazing to see what women's basketball has done in the last, say, 10 years. So the excitement around it and the strength of women playing professional ball, it's just cool."
Genevieve Bennett of Minneapolis is a relatively new sports fan. Bennett wore a shirt to Sunday's game that read, "Everyone watches women's sports."
"My partner is a big sports fan and so introduced me to first women's college basketball and now I've become a women's basketball fan," Bennett said.
The 2024 WNBA season has seen historic growth in both TV ratings and attendance.
While rookie Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever has been credited in the media for helping drive the spike, Cheryl Calloway of St. Paul said, "She's good. There's no question about it. She's good. But there are a lot of other good and great players who I think are not getting the kind of recognition and attention they should be getting."
Gloria Jeff agreed, complimenting Napheesa Collier. The Minnesota Lynx forward scored 38 points in Sunday's game — a career high.
Jeff said about this year's team, "They enjoy each other. It is very clear on the court that they enjoy one another, are in sync with one another, and that's what a team is. It isn't five people who run up and down the floor together. It's five people who know each other, enjoy each other, and do a good job together."
While the Lynx had a strong lead, Phoenix closed the gap in the fourth quarter.
After the Lynx's win, one fan said, "It was a little scary there for a little bit but they brought it back which is all I need them to do. So we're feeling good."
The best-of-three series continues with the Lynx once again playing the Phoenix Mercury at Target Center on Wednesday night.