The Minnesota Lynx – winners of four WNBA championships in their last seven years are a model franchise for not only women’s basketball but throughout all sports.
When thinking of what has fueled the Lynx’s success over the years, it is warranted to mention their core group of veteran players – Maya Moore, Lindsay Whalen, Rebekkah Brunson, Sylvia Fowles, Seimone Augustus, etc. as well as head coach Cheryl Reeve.
The team also gives credit to Noah Basketball—an Alabama-based analytics outfit designed to help players with shot accuracy, particularly with the three-point shot.
Noah mentioned on its website that a major reason for the Lynx winning this past year’s WNBA championship was its 91 percent free-throw shooting percentage in Game 5 of the Finals. Noah provides instant feedback on if a shot is too right or left as well as the entry angle it has on its way to the rim.
Reeve herself has credited Noahlytics with helping her team’s accuracy.
I attribute a lot (of our success) to it.
–Reeve to the St. Paul Pioneer Press in August
The Lynx began using Noahlytics with the 2016 season. Over time, players began noticing how much Noah would be an asset to the team.
I think as soon as we got it we realized that it was a tool that could be helpful to us.
–Rebekkah Brunson, St. Paul Pioneer Press in August
Sometimes you think you’re shooting your shot a certain way, then you hear (the trajectory) and you’re like, ‘Ugh, no.’ It really helped us focus in and getting our shots up, getting it from being left, right, short. It’s a great tool to have.
–Rebekkah Brunson
According to a SportTechie article, half of NBA teams also use Noah and its CEO John Carter said it would especially like to incorporate Noah into high school programs.
Players love it. They know – and their coaches know – when they don’t score enough. This can tell them why.
–John Carter to SportTechie
This generation of players trusts technology. If a computer says they can shoot better, they believe it.
–John Carter to SportTechie
By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)
