Courtney Williams' Career Year From Three Has Supercharged the Lynx Offense

Courtney Williams has been a mid-range assassin throughout her 10 years in the WNBA. According to Basketball Reference, 60.1% of Williams’ career field-goal attempts have come from between 10 feet and the 3-point line. It is where she has lived offensively.

Williams has been able to translate this mid-range scoring ability to a contending basketball context in her two seasons with the Minnesota Lynx. Still, she has made a slight adjustment to her overall shot diet.

Since arriving in Minnesota two seasons ago, Williams' ability to extend her shooting range by attempting more three-point field goals has been a driving force behind one of her most efficient scoring seasons of her career this year. Ultimately, it has helped propel the Lynx offense to new heights.

Napheesa Collier is the league's frontrunner for MVP. She garners a lot of credit for the team’s offensive firepower because she has been one of the league's most efficient scorers while leading the league in points per game. Williams still deserves a lot of credit for why the Lynx have jumped from fifth in the WNBA with a 104.6 offensive rating last season, to first place this season with a 113.2 offensive rating.

Williams has broken nearly all of her previous season-long three-point statistics.

With 3.5 3-point attempts per game, 1.4 3-point makes per game, 141 3-point attempts, 57 3-point makes, and a 26.8% 3-point rate. Williams has set numerous single-season career highs with four games left to play in this regular season.

Therefore, it’s unsurprising that Williams has been shooting from further out this season. Her average field-goal attempt is 16.7 feet away from the rim, tying her 2021 season with the Atlanta Dream.

Minnesota boasts a roster of above-average 3-point threats, including Kayla McBride, Collier, and Bridget Carleton. The Lynx have made 38.4% of their 3-point attempts this season, the best in the WNBA. A mark that is nearly 3% higher than the second-place New York Liberty. Still, Williams' ability to extend her jump shooting to more three-point attempts has been crucial for team success and has only made the team more dangerous.

The Lynx are 18-1 in the 19 games that Williams has had two or more 3-point makes. They are 8-0 in the 8 games that she has had three or more 3-pointers made.

Minnesota is 32-8 and already clinched the No. 1 seed in the WNBA this season. Therefore, it’s difficult to fully attribute Williams' three-point success solely to wins and losses. Meanwhile, when Williams makes one or does not make a 3-point field goal, the Lynx are 14-7.

When Williams can find her shooting rhythm from beyond the arc, the Lynx are difficult to slow down.

As the Lynx’s starting point guard, Williams has a lot of time on the ball. Still, she finds ways to split her shot attempts between catch-and-shoot 3s and pull-up 3s.

Among Williams' 57 3-point makes, 22 have been pull-up jump shots and 35 have been catch-and-shoot jump shots according to WNBA shot tracking data.

The Lynx offensive system promotes this balance. Williams initiates a lot of the Lynx's actions and is a primary playmaker for her teammates, but she is also an active player away from the ball. Off-ball Williams doesn’t do anything extraordinary. Still, she finds ways to get into the right positions, a pass away from her teammates, to stretch the opponents' defenses out.

The Lynx will need Williams to continue her perimeter scoring into the playoffs if they want a chance to complete their “revenge tour” and claim their 5th WNBA Championship.

Williams is ultimately one of the Lynx’s most vital variables. Last season in the Finals, Williams shot just 38.2% from the field and 25% from 3, scoring 13.8 points per game. Efficiency can drop in the playoffs due to the intensity of games and the level of opponents. Still, at the very least, the Lynx will need Williams to continue maintaining her steady three-point volume. The results speak for themselves this regular season.