The Minnesota Lynx’s night was not going well. And then, it really unraveled. The final seconds included coach Cheryl Reeve being ejected as she was held back by her assistants and a player, and star Napheesa Collier was helped to the locker room as she limped off the court wiping away tears after a collision on the court. The chaotic ending punctuated the dire circumstances facing the Lynx, who were last season’s WNBA championship runners-up and are now at risk of not returning to the title gam
The final seconds included coach Cheryl Reeve being ejected as she was held back by her assistants and a player, and star Napheesa Collier was helped to the locker room as she limped off the court wiping away tears after a collision on the court. The chaotic ending punctuated the dire circumstances facing the Lynx, who were last season’s WNBA championship runners-up and are now at risk of not returning to the title game.
The Mercury took a 2-1 semifinals lead on the Lynx Friday night in Phoenix with an 84-76 victory.
Reeve’s ire was directed at the no-call when Alyssa Thomas stole the ball away from Collier, who seemed to twist her ankle as she fell after appearing to knock knees with Collier on the play. Thomas went coast-to-coast to provide a six-point lead. Collier slapped her hand on the court in pain and frustration as Reeve charged after the referees with 21.8 seconds remaining. It was her second technical of the game.
Collier, the 2025 MVP runner-up, did not return in the final seconds. She finished the loss with 17 points, but she attempted just one shot in the fourth quarter and did not score in the period. Reeve had picked up her first technical foul in the second quarter.
The Mercury had waited all season for a night like Friday, in which their Big 3 collectively starred. For the first time all season, Satou Sabally, Thomas and Kahleah Copper each scored more than 20 points. Sabally led Phoenix with 23, including 15 fourth-quarter points.
Phoenix’s grinding defense frustrated Minnesota throughout the game, as the Mercury forced nine steals. Phoenix staged a grand comeback to win Game 2, but it needed no heroics in Game 3. Phoenix’s eight-point margin of victory was the game’s largest lead of the night.
There was no historic push nor broken last-second play that went their way, but for the second consecutive game, the Mercury’s style produced a similar result.
As a result, Reeve and the top-seeded Lynx find themselves on the brink of elimination. Game 4 is set for Sunday in Phoenix.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Minnesota Lynx, Phoenix Mercury, WNBA
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Category: General Sports
