WNBA Finals: Courtney Williams is a playoff riser, and the perfect point guard for these Lynx

Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve has a reputation for maintaining high expectations for all of her players. But, specially, Reeve is known for being hard on her point guards.

“She is really hard on her lead guards,” Lynx forward Napheesa Collier said. “Because, obviously, it’s a lot of responsibility. They are what makes the team go.”

But not everyone can take the tough love. The years in which Reeve has developed a solid relationship with Minnesota’s floor general, the Lynx have tended to prosper. When that hasn’t occurred, the team doesn’t quite play to the organizational standard.

Enter Courtney Williams this season. The 30-year-old noted she and Reeve vibed well on her free-agent call, so she hoped that would leak into the season. Sure enough, upon her arrival in Minnesota, one of the first things Williams was told by Reeve was how much the coach appreciated how black and white she is.

“Because I am,” Williams said. “I don’t like gray area things, and she don’t, either. She’s (also) black and white, so I think that’s why we mesh well.”

It’s been a match made in heaven, as Williams has guided an offense that has demonstrated more cohesiveness and explosiveness this season while sporting a top-10 offensive rating. That, paired with an elite defense, has the Lynx just two wins away from a title heading into Wednesday’s Game 3 of the WNBA Finals.

Williams was informed by a reporter Wednesday that New York coach Sandy Brondello felt while the thought is the Lynx are Collier driven, Williams is the one you must close down to turn off Minnesota’s water. The guard concurred.

“Yeah, I’m the point guard. So I think any point guard on any team is a big factor, especially on this stage,” Williams said. “You’re the head of the snake, you’re the extension of the coach.”

An adept one, at that.

But just because there has been so much success doesn’t mean there haven’t been a fair amount of interactions between coach and point guard that Lynx forward Alanna Smith described as … “quite passionate.”

“And Courtney, her response is always, ‘Yep, OK, got you, Coach. I hear you,’” Smith said. “And she does her best to put into action what Coach wants, and I know Cheryl really appreciates that, as well.”

Collier doesn’t believe Reeve is “prickly,” as may sometimes be the coach’s perception. She noted Reeve “just demands excellence.” And demands can’t always be delivered in a friendly tone. That’s fine by the point guard.

“Courtney, it really just rolls off her back,” Collier said. “She can really go in on Courtney, which is funny, because Courtney will say something funny on accident after.”

It’s why Collier agreed Williams has the ideal personality to be this team’s point guard.

“Because she’s like the least sensitive person ever,” Collier said. “She really is perfect, because there’s not much you can say to hurt her feelings.”

Or, really, rattle her in any way. That trait has shined through during this postseason, as when the going gets tough or the moment is heightened, the point guard consistently delivers.

Minnesota clawed its way back from 15 points down in the final five minutes of regulation of Game 1 to steal the bout in overtime, and it was Williams who hit the biggest shot of the game, drilling a triple while getting fouled in the final 10 seconds.

The Lynx nearly erased a double-digit deficit again in Game 2. Collier said Williams’ confidence boosts not only her, but the team forward.

“Her confidence in herself and in us,” Collier said. “It’s unwavering loyalty and thinking that we’re going to win, no matter what the odds are. Having that, especially in your lead guard, is so important.”

It’s why even after dropping that Game 2, Williams was undeterred standing on the Target Center floor after practice Tuesday.

“How can you not feel good?” she asked, noting Minnesota now has a pair of home games after swiping a contest in New York. “That’s what a series is about. You’ve got to let it go. We’re onto the next one. It’s a five-game series for a reason.”

That’s who she is. Smith – who has been teammates with Williams in Chicago and now Minnesota – noted the guard is “not a negative person.”

Quite the opposite.

“She’s quite positive, so in moments when it’s hard and we’ve had a loss or anything, she always approaches it positively and with a growth mindset,” Smith said.

There is no fear of failure present in that 5-foot-8 frame. Just a whole lot of belief.

Perhaps that’s why, throughout her career, Williams has seen her scoring and efficiency numbers all skyrocket in the playoffs.

“I mean, it’s the biggest stage. It’s win or go home, so what am I saving it for?” she asked. “There’s no reason to save nothing now. Everything you’ve got in your bag, it’s time to pull it out.”

That’s the mentality every player wants to have, but few can act upon it. The big stage and moment causes many athletes – even the best of the best – to shrink. Why is Williams such a positive outlier?

“I don’t know, I guess I’m built different,” she said. “Because I love the moment. I don’t shy away from the moment at all.”

Rather, she thrives in it. If you can handle the weight of the expectations Reeve has for her point guards, perhaps the bright lights of a WNBA Finals pale in comparison.

“All my life, since rec league, I always want the ball in my hand when it’s time to go make a play,” Williams said. “That’s who I’ve always been.”

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