Forty minutes is a long game, especially playing on the road against the No. 1 seed in the entire WNBA. After falling behind 28-21 at the end of the first quarter, the Minnesota Lynx simply cruised for the remainder of their first playoff game of 2025.
Photo Credit: Shawn Mclurkin | Ballislife
The 2024 NBA Finalists outscored the Golden State Valkyries, 44-24, in the paint, and had more than a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio (25 assists to 11 turnovers) as a team, ultimately allowing them to coast to a 101-72 victory.
“The thing about Minnesota is that they are very steady the entire game,” said Valkyries rapidly emerging playmaker Veronica Burton, who was forced into seven turnovers on the night. “There are no let-ups and there are no drop-offs.”
Lynx take Game 1 behind a terrific off the bench performance (18 pts, 4 asts, +32) from Natisha Hiedeman. #LosLynx pic.twitter.com/SVnb7zh6ax
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) September 15, 2025
While there was a slight let-up in the first quarter, that was quickly rescinded during the second quarter, largely due to the energy that one player brought off the bench: Natisha Hiedeman. The energetic catalyst finished with 18 points and four assists off the bench, contributing to more points than any player that Minnesota had to offer.
“She’s [Hiedeman] coming off the bench, giving them depth and push,” Valkyries guard Ceclia Zandalasini confessed. “We’ve gotta be more alert and treat her like a starter.”
Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve added on Hiedeman: “She changed the game today. She changed the game last time. She’s just playing her best basketball of the season.”
The Tee Factor
The 5-foot-8 Wisconsin native was dynamic out of pick and roll play, nearly unstoppable when driving downhill with her left hand. On the offensive end, she constantly threw defenders off with her change of pace. “Tee” made a pair of 3-pointers, making the defense honor her shot enough to set up her drives to the rack. The runner up for WNBA Sixth Person of The Year by the A.P., Hiedeman certainly has the confidence of her coaches and teammates alike for this playoff run.
“She’s confident with her decision making out of pick and roll coverages. She’s doing a nice job of freezing the big a little bit about where to go, and she seeks the paint well,” said Reeve, a four-time WNBA Coach of The Year and four-time WNBA champ. “Her play, particularly in the first half, was vital getting us through that slower first quarter.”
“She’s on a heater right now the last five games. That’s just who Tee is”- #Lynx all_star Kayla McBride on Natisha Hiedeman’s energetic 18pt, 4asst off bench in 101-72 game 1 W. Hiedeman had 2nd highest +%- in #LosLynx playoff history at +32& was unstoppable downhill going left pic.twitter.com/bx2qqQ1dEe
— Rodger Bohn (@rodgerbohn) September 14, 2025
WNBA All-Star shooter Kayla McBride added, “Yeah, she’s on a heater right now the last five games. That’s just who Tee is. She’s one of the people we were talking about who has been with finals contender teams. She knows who she is as a pro and throughout the season, you’ve just seen her kind of continue to evolve”
Lynx Total Team Effort
It wasn’t all Hiedeman, though. After a slow start, MVP candidate Napheesa Collier got hot and ultimately finished with 20 points and six rebounds while playing sparingly in the second half. McBride was unstoppable coming off of pin-downs, finishing with 17 points before sitting our the entire fourth quarter.
Do-it-all forward Alanna Smith guarded every single position on the floor at times and was +31 points throughout her time on the hardwood. While Hiedeman was the sparkplug, it’s going to be a team effort for the Minnesota Lynx to take home the ‘chip.’
“Our team is deep,” Lynx lead guard and fellow StudBudz podcast host Courtney Williams said after the game. “It’s not about me, it’s about we.”
The Lynx will face the Valkyries in Game 2 of the best-of-three series on Wednesday, September 17.
