MINNEAPOLIS – In a commanding display, the Minnesota Lynx defeated the Phoenix Mercury 88-65 on Tuesday night, marking their second win against the team within just five days. Napheesa Collier was pivotal in the Lynx’s success, contributing 18 points along with 11 rebounds. Matching her point tally, Natisha Hiedeman also scored 18, propelling Minnesota to a triumphant victory.
This latest win sees the Lynx off to a remarkable 8-0 start for the season, a feat achieved for the fourth time in the franchise’s history; a record that matches the combined total of all other WNBA teams. The game saw the Lynx initially trailing 23-14 with just under a minute remaining in the opening quarter. However, they managed an impressive turnaround, outpacing the Mercury 49-23, leading to a comfortable 63-46 advantage late in the third quarter.
A decisive moment came with less than halfway to go in the final quarter when the Lynx embarked on a 9-0 run. This offensive surge was initiated by a three-point play courtesy of Collier, followed by consecutive three-pointers from Bridget Carleton and Kayla McBride, extending their lead to 80-56.
Efforts by McBride were instrumental, as she, Alanna Smith, and Karlie Samuelson each sank three of the team’s total 12 successful three-point attempts. Both Smith and McBride ended the game with 13 points apiece. Notably, McBride also led the team in assists, completing the game with seven. While the Lynx boasted an impressive 29 assists on their 34 successful field goals, they were also troubled by 23 turnovers.
On the Phoenix side, Lexi Held stood out with 16 points, while Satou Sabally, contributing 15 points and eight rebounds, found her first points of the second half with less than seven minutes to play in the final quarter. Kitija Laksa provided an additional 10 points.
This recent matchup followed a closely contested victory for the Lynx last Friday, in which they narrowly beat the Mercury 74-71. Collier’s contribution in this latest game came after being sidelined in the previous encounter due to a lingering knee injury.