Napheesa Collier recorded her 13th double-double of the season with 17 points and 12 rebounds as the Minnesota Lynx defeated the Washington Mystics 79-68 on Thursday night. Courtney Williams contributed 14 points and five assists to the victory. Williams scored a crucial 3-pointer to break a tie at 63-all with 4:24 left in the game, followed by Collier’s 4-0 run that extended the Lynx’s lead to 70-63 with 2:50 remaining. Kayla McBride added a 3-pointer to give the Lynx an eight-point advantage with 1:36 left on the clock.

McBride’s steal led to a layup by Alanna Smith, who was fouled and made the free throw, increasing the Lynx’s lead to 76-68 with 38.5 seconds remaining. Washington’s Shakira Austin missed two crucial free throws, allowing Minnesota to secure the rebound and seal the victory. Washington struggled to make field goals in the final six minutes of the game. Collier, playing her first game for the Lynx since July 4, shot 6 of 13 from the field in 30 minutes. Smith contributed 12 points and eight rebounds, while McBride also added 12 points to the Lynx’s winning effort.

For Washington (6-20), Ariel Atkins scored 12 points, Brittney Sykes added 11, and Jade Melbourne had 10 points. Austin, who returned to the game after a hip injury sidelined her since May 31, gathered 10 rebounds and scored nine points. Both teams shot below 40% in the first half, with Washington leading 37-35 at halftime. UConn standout Paige Bueckers, a Minnesota native, was in attendance to support her former college teammates Dorka Juhasz and Aaliyah Edwards who were playing. On Saturday, Washington will host Minnesota in a rematch.