Lynx return to finals with 88-77 win over Sun in Game 5 behind Collier's 27 points, 11 rebounds
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Minnesota Lynx are three wins from a fifth championship, chasing a league record with an entirely different core from the previous dynasty.
Napheesa Collier is fully in charge of this group.
Collier had 27 points on 10-for-16 shooting and 11 rebounds and Courtney Williams contributed 24 points and both-ends-of-the-court energy to lead the Minnesota Lynx past the Connecticut Sun 88-77 and into the WNBA Finals for the first time in seven years on Tuesday night.
Collier, the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, added four blocks in a vintage all-around performance.
“She’s improved every season. She’s just been incredible. Every game, it’s more than scoring how she helps our team," coach Cheryl Reeve said. “When she plays like the MVP, we're tough to beat.”
As soon as the final buzzer sounded, with the arena roaring, Collier headed over to Lindsay Whalen's courtside seat and hugged the Hall of Famer and former Lynx star, who was the point guard on the first four championship teams.
“I definitely want to do her proud,” Collier said.
Kayla McBride had 10 of her 19 points in the first quarter for the Lynx, who advanced to face the top-seeded New York Liberty in Game 1 on Thursday night. The best-of-five series continues with Game 2 in New York on Sunday afternoon, before Minnesota hosts Game 3 on Oct. 16.
The Lynx, who finished second in the league and two games behind the Liberty during the regular season, have won three of four matchups with New York this year. That includes the WNBA Commissioner's Cup on June 25 to take the in-season tournament title.
DiJonai Carrington had 17 points and 12 rebounds and Brionna Jones had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Sun, who shot only 38.5% from the floor (25 for 65) and were flustered into 19 turnovers that the Lynx converted into 22 points.
“They just kind of punched us in the face, and we got shellshocked and then we couldn’t fight back,” said DeWanna Bonner, who had 14 points on 4-for-13 shooting.
The Sun were ousted in the semifinals for the fourth time in six years. They lost in the finals in those other two seasons, 2019 and 2022, when Williams was part of the core that still hasn't cleared that last hurdle to the franchise's first title.
Williams, who’s in her first year with Minnesota, was on a mission to make it there from the tip. The fiery ninth-year point guard was the catalyst on both ends of the floor, attacking the basket, pushing the pace on the break and pestering the Connecticut ball-handlers. Williams had her most points in a playoff game since 2019 and added seven assists, five rebounds and two steals.
She was 6 for 6 in the first half.
“When you start a game like that, you kind of know the hoop's feeling big, you’ve got the super green light,” Williams said. “I think that's the confidence that Cheryl gives us."
The Lynx built a lead as large as 21 points in the second quarter, six more than their biggest of any of the first four games. They had a sluggish start to the second half that was muted by the Sun’s cold shooting, before Alanna Smith swished a 3-pointer to end a 4:22 scoreless skid.
Then Williams swiped the ball away from Bonner as she drove to the basket and sped the other way for a layup and a 58-41 lead. Collier drained a 3-pointer to cap that 12-0 run.
Connecticut eliminated Minnesota here in the decisive Game 3 of the first round last season. Since winning Game 5 of the WNBA Finals in 2017 for their fourth championship in seven years, the Lynx were just 1-4 in winner-take-all games in the playoffs.
The atmosphere at Target Center matched the moment, with a raucous crowd that included Whalen, Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones and two members of the state’s congressional delegation, Rep. Angie Craig and Sen. Tina Smith.
Collier, who averaged 40 points in the two-game sweep of the Phoenix Mercury in the first round and had 29 points and 13 rebounds at Connecticut in Game 4, was her usual cool self with the confidence and determination of a star chasing her first championship.
“She’s just the combination of everything you want in a player, but I think the thing that makes her so special outside of the obvious skill set is she doesn’t get rushed,” Sun coach Stephanie White said. “She stays so poised, no matter what, and you can tell the rest of her team feeds off of that.”
Alyssa Thomas had a quiet seven points and six assists for the Sun, who trailed by double digits for all but 12 seconds of the final three quarters. Marina Mabrey, who came off the bench for the second straight game, hurt her ankle in the first half from an awkward step near a photographer on the baseline and was limited to 14 minutes.
“She’s one of the toughest kids I’ve ever been around,” White said. “She tried to give it a go and just didn’t have it.”
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
10:00 | Start of the 1st Quarter | |||
10:00 | Jump Ball: Brionna Jones vs. Napheesa Collier. | |||
9:45 | Napheesa Collier misses a jump shot from 13 feet out. | |||
9:45 | DiJonai Carrington with a defensive rebound. | |||
9:34 | Alyssa Thomas with a turnover - Bad Pass | |||
9:26 | Kayla McBride misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | |||
9:26 | Sun with a defensive rebound. | |||
9:10 | +2 | Brionna Jones makes a jump shot from 15 feet out. Tyasha Harris with the assist. | 2-0 | |
8:56 | +2 | Kayla McBride makes a layup. | 2-2 | |
8:29 | +2 | Tyasha Harris makes a jump shot from 19 feet out. | 4-2 | |
8:07 | Kayla McBride misses a layup. | |||
8:07 | Brionna Jones with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:57 | +3 | Tyasha Harris makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. Alyssa Thomas with the assist. | 7-2 | |
7:47 | +2 | Courtney Williams makes a jump shot from 17 feet out. | 7-4 | |
7:28 | Alyssa Thomas misses a hook shot from 8 feet out. | |||
7:28 | Brionna Jones with an offensive rebound. | |||
7:28 | +2 | Brionna Jones makes a layup. | 9-4 | |
7:05 | +3 | Courtney Williams makes a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. Alanna Smith with the assist. | 9-7 | |
6:38 | DeWanna Bonner misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | |||
6:38 | Courtney Williams with a defensive rebound. | |||
6:24 | Bridget Carleton misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
6:24 | Napheesa Collier with an offensive rebound. | |||
6:22 | Shooting foul committed by Tyasha Harris. | |||
6:22 | +1 | Napheesa Collier makes free throw 1 of 2. | 9-8 | |
6:22 | Substitution: Marina Mabrey in for Brionna Jones. | |||
6:22 | +1 | Napheesa Collier makes free throw 2 of 2. | 9-9 | |
6:07 | Courtney Williams steals the ball from DeWanna Bonner. | |||
6:01 | Napheesa Collier misses a layup. | |||
6:01 | Napheesa Collier with an offensive rebound. | |||
5:56 | Bridget Carleton misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
5:56 | Napheesa Collier with an offensive rebound. | |||
5:50 | Jump Ball: Napheesa Collier vs. DeWanna Bonner. | |||
7:28 | +2 | Brionna Jones makes a layup. | 9-4 | |
5:36 | Alanna Smith misses free throw 1 of 2. | |||
5:36 | Lynx with an offensive rebound. | |||
5:36 | +1 | Alanna Smith makes free throw 2 of 2. | 9-10 | |
5:24 | Alyssa Thomas with a turnover - Bad Pass | |||
5:06 | +2 | Bridget Carleton makes a layup. Kayla McBride with the assist. | 9-12 | |
4:52 | Official TV timeout. | |||
4:50 | DeWanna Bonner misses a jump shot from 18 feet out. | |||
4:50 | Napheesa Collier with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:39 | +2 | Courtney Williams makes a jump shot from 6 feet out. | 9-14 | |
4:25 | +2 | Marina Mabrey makes a jump shot from 17 feet out. | 11-14 | |
4:07 | Technical foul committed by Sun. | |||
4:07 | Kayla McBride misses free throw technical. | |||
4:07 | Lynx with an offensive rebound. | |||
3:58 | +2 | Kayla McBride makes a jump shot from 16 feet out. | 11-16 | |
3:43 | Tyasha Harris misses a jump shot from 20 feet out. | |||
3:43 | Alanna Smith with a defensive rebound. | |||
3:32 | +3 | Alanna Smith makes a 3-point jump shot from 29 feet out. Courtney Williams with the assist. | 11-19 | |
3:16 | +3 | Marina Mabrey makes a 3-point jump shot from 29 feet out. | 14-19 | |
3:06 | +3 | Kayla McBride makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. Courtney Williams with the assist. | 14-22 | |
2:51 | DiJonai Carrington misses a layup. | |||
2:51 | Alanna Smith with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:42 | +3 | Kayla McBride makes a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. Courtney Williams with the assist. | 14-25 | |
2:40 | Sun take a full timeout. | |||
2:40 | Substitution: Veronica Burton in for DiJonai Carrington. | |||
2:26 | +2 | Alyssa Thomas makes a layup. | 16-25 | |
2:17 | Personal foul committed by Marina Mabrey. | |||
2:03 | Napheesa Collier misses a jump shot from 14 feet out. | |||
2:03 | DeWanna Bonner with a defensive rebound. | |||
1:53 | Marina Mabrey misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | |||
1:53 | Napheesa Collier with a defensive rebound. | |||
1:35 | +2 | Napheesa Collier makes a layup. Alanna Smith with the assist. | 16-27 | |
1:14 | +2 | DeWanna Bonner makes a layup. Veronica Burton with the assist. | 18-27 | |
1:03 | +2 | Courtney Williams makes a jump shot from 17 feet out. | 18-29 | |
55.9 | DeWanna Bonner misses a layup. | |||
55.9 | DeWanna Bonner with an offensive rebound. | |||
39.7 | Sun with a turnover: Shot Clock Turnover | |||
39.7 | Substitution: Brionna Jones in for DeWanna Bonner. | |||
39.7 | Substitution: Natisha Hiedeman in for Bridget Carleton. | |||
39.7 | Substitution: Myisha Hines-Allen in for Alanna Smith. | |||
39.7 | Substitution: Cecilia Zandalasini in for Courtney Williams. | |||
30.1 | +2 | Napheesa Collier makes a jump shot from 13 feet out. Natisha Hiedeman with the assist. | 18-31 | |
10.1 | Brionna Jones misses a jump shot from 16 feet out. | |||
10.1 | Cecilia Zandalasini with a defensive rebound. | |||
0.1 | Brionna Jones blocks a Myisha Hines-Allen layup. | |||
0.1 | Lynx with an offensive rebound. | |||
0.0 | End of the 1st Quarter |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
10:00 | Start of the 2nd Quarter | |||
9:39 | +2 | Alyssa Thomas makes a jump shot from 16 feet out. Veronica Burton with the assist. | 20-31 | |
9:17 | Kayla McBride misses a 3-point jump shot from 29 feet out. | |||
9:17 | Tyasha Harris with a defensive rebound. | |||
9:02 | +2 | Brionna Jones makes a layup. | 22-31 | |
8:50 | +2 | Kayla McBride makes a layup. Myisha Hines-Allen with the assist. | 22-33 | |
8:35 | Myisha Hines-Allen blocks a Veronica Burton 3-point jump shot from 23 feet out. | |||
8:35 | Brionna Jones with an offensive rebound. | |||
8:30 | Napheesa Collier blocks a Brionna Jones layup. | |||
8:30 | Napheesa Collier with a defensive rebound. | |||
8:27 | +2 | Natisha Hiedeman makes a layup. Napheesa Collier with the assist. | 22-35 | |
8:22 | Sun take a full timeout. | |||
8:22 | Substitution: DeWanna Bonner in for Tyasha Harris. | |||
8:22 | Substitution: DiJonai Carrington in for Marina Mabrey. | |||
8:22 | Substitution: Bridget Carleton in for Kayla McBride. | |||
8:03 | DiJonai Carrington misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | |||
8:03 | Natisha Hiedeman with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:51 | +2 | Napheesa Collier makes a layup. Natisha Hiedeman with the assist. | 22-37 | |
7:40 | Shooting foul committed by Natisha Hiedeman. | |||
7:40 | Alyssa Thomas misses free throw 1 of 2. | |||
7:40 | Sun with an offensive rebound. | |||
7:40 | +1 | Alyssa Thomas makes free throw 2 of 2. | 23-37 | |
7:22 | Substitution: Tyasha Harris in for Veronica Burton. | |||
7:15 | Cecilia Zandalasini misses a jump shot from 9 feet out. | |||
7:15 | DiJonai Carrington with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:06 | DiJonai Carrington with a turnover - Bad Pass | |||
6:57 | +3 | Natisha Hiedeman makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | 23-40 | |
6:34 | Napheesa Collier steals the ball from DiJonai Carrington. | |||
6:29 | Substitution: Alanna Smith in for Napheesa Collier. | |||
6:25 | Myisha Hines-Allen misses a layup. | |||
6:25 | Brionna Jones with a defensive rebound. | |||
6:06 | DiJonai Carrington misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | |||
6:06 | Cecilia Zandalasini with a defensive rebound. | |||
5:55 | Brionna Jones blocks a Natisha Hiedeman layup. | |||
5:55 | Brionna Jones with a defensive rebound. | |||
5:34 | DiJonai Carrington misses a jump shot from 10 feet out. | |||
5:34 | Lynx with a defensive rebound. | |||
5:34 | Substitution: Courtney Williams in for Natisha Hiedeman. | |||
5:21 | Cecilia Zandalasini misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | |||
5:21 | DeWanna Bonner with a defensive rebound. | |||
5:12 | Offensive foul committed by Brionna Jones. | |||
5:12 | Brionna Jones with a turnover | |||
5:04 | Offensive foul committed by Myisha Hines-Allen. | |||
5:04 | Myisha Hines-Allen with a turnover | |||
4:40 | Alanna Smith blocks a DeWanna Bonner layup. | |||
4:40 | Bridget Carleton with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:34 | Bridget Carleton misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
4:34 | DiJonai Carrington with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:20 | Technical foul committed by Lynx. | |||
4:20 | +1 | DeWanna Bonner makes free throw technical. | 24-40 | |
4:20 | Substitution: Marina Mabrey in for Brionna Jones. | |||
4:20 | Substitution: Kayla McBride in for Cecilia Zandalasini. | |||
4:20 | Substitution: Napheesa Collier in for Myisha Hines-Allen. | |||
4:09 | Alyssa Thomas with a turnover - Bad Pass | |||
3:57 | +2 | Kayla McBride makes a jump shot from 10 feet out. | 24-42 | |
3:41 | DiJonai Carrington with a turnover - Out of Bounds | |||
3:33 | DeWanna Bonner steals the ball from Kayla McBride. | |||
3:30 | Bridget Carleton steals the ball from DeWanna Bonner. | |||
3:26 | Alanna Smith misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | |||
3:26 | Lynx with an offensive rebound. | |||
3:25 | Personal foul committed by Alyssa Thomas. | |||
3:18 | +2 | Napheesa Collier makes a jump shot from 7 feet out. Kayla McBride with the assist. | 24-44 | |
3:07 | Personal foul committed by Bridget Carleton. | |||
2:52 | +3 | DeWanna Bonner makes a 3-point jump shot from 30 feet out. | 27-44 | |
2:36 | Kayla McBride misses a 3-point jump shot from 29 feet out. | |||
2:36 | DiJonai Carrington with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:20 | +3 | Marina Mabrey makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. Alyssa Thomas with the assist. | 30-44 | |
2:11 | Lynx take a full timeout. | |||
1:59 | +3 | Courtney Williams makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Napheesa Collier with the assist. | 30-47 | |
1:59 | Shooting foul committed by DiJonai Carrington. | |||
1:59 | +1 | Courtney Williams makes free throw 1 of 1. | 30-48 | |
1:42 | Personal foul committed by Bridget Carleton. | |||
1:29 | DeWanna Bonner misses a layup. | |||
1:29 | Alanna Smith with a defensive rebound. | |||
1:27 | Kayla McBride with a turnover - Bad Pass | |||
1:15 | Tyasha Harris misses a layup. | |||
1:15 | Courtney Williams with a defensive rebound. | |||
1:09 | Courtney Williams with a turnover - Bad Pass | |||
54.9 | Marina Mabrey misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
54.9 | Napheesa Collier with a defensive rebound. | |||
44.8 | +2 | Napheesa Collier makes a layup. Courtney Williams with the assist. | 30-50 | |
44.8 | Shooting foul committed by Alyssa Thomas. | |||
44.8 | +1 | Napheesa Collier makes free throw 1 of 1. | 30-51 | |
26.2 | Personal foul committed by Napheesa Collier. | |||
26.2 | +1 | Alyssa Thomas makes free throw 1 of 2. | 31-51 | |
26.2 | +1 | Alyssa Thomas makes free throw 2 of 2. | 32-51 | |
08.0 | +2 | Courtney Williams makes a jump shot from 17 feet out. Napheesa Collier with the assist. | 32-53 | |
03.4 | Shooting foul committed by Bridget Carleton. | |||
03.4 | +1 | Tyasha Harris makes free throw 1 of 2. | 33-53 | |
03.4 | Substitution: Cecilia Zandalasini in for Bridget Carleton. | |||
03.4 | +1 | Tyasha Harris makes free throw 2 of 2. | 34-53 | |
0.0 | Kayla McBride misses a 3-point jump shot from 39 feet out. | |||
0.0 | Lynx with an offensive rebound. | |||
0.0 | End of the 2nd Quarter | |||
8:27 | +2 | Natisha Hiedeman makes a layup. | 22-35 |