Center Alanna Smith finished the season despite a very painful back injury. She hurt her lower back while falling early in the WNBA Finals, then reaggravated the injury when being knocked down by Liberty center Jonquel Jones in Game 5.
“They’re saying it’s muscular, which is a best-case scenario,” Smith said. “So, in simple terms, and this is going to sound really boring, but it’s just a really, really bad bruise.”
To be sure, though, Smith will undergo further testing before heading into an offseason that includes plans to play in China.
Usually the end of a WNBA regular season — especially after a deep playoff run — involves players quickly packing to get to their teams overseas. For many Lynx players, this is true. But for a few, there is time to rest.
Unrivaled — a pro three-on-three women’s league co-founded by Lynx star Napheesa Collier and New York standout Breanna Stewart — is set to begin in Florida this winter. It will be made up of 30 players, including Collier and her Lynx teammates Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams.
