Courtney Williams gives Lynx the edge they need to push through playoffs

The Lynx felt Connecticut was the asserter in Game 1 of the WNBA semifinals via the Sun’s chatter and chippiness. So Minnesota wanted to answer the bell.

You don’t have to ask Courtney Williams twice.

The Lynx point guard was at the center of the situation in the third quarter of Game 2, when she and Sun guard Marina Mabrey shared words during a dead ball.

Williams delivered a play by play to the media after the Lynx victory on Tuesday.

“We was chatting. I told her she couldn’t guard me,” Williams said. “She told me I didn’t have that many good games.”

“I said, ‘So you think you pressure? Because I’m really pressure.’ ”

“A little back and forth action,” Williams said. “It’s playoffs, man. We’re going to talk a little bit. We’ll be cool again after we done playing.”

Williams simply isn’t going to back down from a challenge. She’s a 5-foot-8 bulldog. The 30-year-old has an edge to her that teams need to succeed in tough games. And this semifinal series, which features a Game 3 on Friday in Connecticut, is full of tough games. It’s the WNBA’s two best defensive teams going toe to toe game after game. Officials have allowed plenty of contact, leading to two ultra-physical games to date, with no sign of letting up.

So it’s a benefit for Minnesota have Williams as its floor general. She’s not afraid to speak her mind, much like she’s not the slightest bit hesitant to take a big shot. She figures to need plenty of the latter as the rest of this postseason unfolds.

Connecticut is making life difficult on all-world Lynx forward Napheesa Collier. Minnesota won Game 2 when Williams and Alanna Smith hit shots. It lost Game 1 when they didn’t. The Lynx never had to worry about Williams’ Game 1 struggles leading to any hesitancy moving forward. Heck, Williams was 1-for-6 shooting from the field over the first 20 minutes Tuesday, only to respond by hitting five of her seven shots in the second half to help Minnesota pull even in the series with a win it absolutely had to have.

Connecticut makes opponents battle for everything offensively. Williams is willing to battle for every point.

Those are the types of gamers you need to have in tense environments like the one the Lynx will see Friday in Connecticut, where Williams played five seasons. Surely, Williams can handle any hostile surroundings.

After all, she is pressure.