Napheesa Collier scores 42 to tie a WNBA playoff record for points, and the Lynx swept the Mercury
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Napheesa Collier scored 42 to tie a WNBA playoff record for points in a game, and the Minnesota Lynx swept the Phoenix Mercury 101-88 on Wednesday night.
Collier tied Breanna Stewart and Angel McCoughtry for the 42-point record when she made 1 of 2 free throws with 3:18 left in the fourth quarter. It was one of just two misses from the free-throw line in 14 attempts for Collier, who was subbed out with 58.3 seconds left.
Collier, who scored a career-high 38 points in Game 1, became the first player in WNBA history with 38-plus points in back-to-back playoff games. She also set a WNBA record for the most points (80) over a two-game stretch in the playoffs. Collier reached 38 points in Game 2 with 5:55 left in the fourth.
Minnesota plays Sunday against Connecticut, which advanced to its sixth consecutive semifinals after an 87-81 victory over Indiana earlier Wednesday.
Kayla McBride added 15 points, and Bridget Carleton and Alanna Smith each scored 12 for Minnesota. Courtney Williams had 11 points.
Brittney Griner scored 24 points for Phoenix and Diana Taurasi finished with 10 before fouling out with 2:34 left. Taurasi left to a standing ovation from the Minnesota crowd before Collier came over to the Mercury bench for a brief handshake with her fellow UConn star.
Taurasi hasn’t announced whether this is her final year in the WNBA, but the Phoenix Mercury honored her at their final home regular-season game.
Collier scored 11 of Minnesota’s 21 first-quarter points after making 5 of 6 shots. Collier finished the half with 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting to help Minnesota take a 49-47 lead into the intermission. The rest of her teammates combined to make 10 of 26.
The officials reviewed a physical play in the third quarter involving Carleton and Phoenix guard Sophie Cunningham, who was assessed a Flagrant 1 foul after the review. Williams was also given a technical foul. After it was all settled, McBride sank a wide open 3-pointer to give Minnesota a 58-53 lead.
Williams gave Minnesota its first double-digit lead of the second half at 72-60 with 2:17 left in the third quarter. The Lynx led by double digits the entire fourth quarter.
Minnesota improved to 5-1 against the Mercury this season.
It was Collier’s third straight playoff game overall with 30 points, tying the A’ja Wilson for the longest streak in WNBA history, after scoring 31 points in a Game 3 loss to Connecticut last season.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 |  | Start of the 1st Quarter | ||
| 10:00 | | Jump Ball: Napheesa Collier vs. Brittney Griner. | ||
| 9:36 |  | +2 | Natasha Cloud makes a layup. Sophie Cunningham with the assist. | 2-0 |
| 9:24 | | +2 | Napheesa Collier makes a layup. Alanna Smith with the assist. | 2-2 |
| 9:13 | | Offensive foul committed by Brittney Griner. | ||
| 9:13 | | Brittney Griner with a turnover | ||
| 9:03 | | Alanna Smith misses a layup. | ||
| 9:03 | | Brittney Griner with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 8:51 | | +2 | Brittney Griner makes a layup. Diana Taurasi with the assist. | 4-2 |
| 8:37 | | +2 | Napheesa Collier makes a layup. Bridget Carleton with the assist. | 4-4 |
| 8:37 | | Shooting foul committed by Natasha Cloud. | ||
| 8:37 | | +1 | Napheesa Collier makes free throw 1 of 1. | 4-5 |
| 8:29 | | Offensive foul committed by Kahleah Copper. | ||
| 8:29 | | Kahleah Copper with a turnover | ||
| 8:14 | | Courtney Williams misses a jump shot from 21 feet out. | ||
| 8:14 | | Natasha Cloud with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 8:05 | | Personal foul committed by Napheesa Collier. | ||
| 7:52 | | +2 | Brittney Griner makes a layup. Natasha Cloud with the assist. | 6-5 |
| 7:42 | | Kayla McBride misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 7:42 | | Alanna Smith with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 7:29 | | Alanna Smith misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 7:29 | | Lynx with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 7:25 | | Jump Ball: Sophie Cunningham vs. Bridget Carleton. | ||
| 7:08 | | Brittney Griner blocks a Courtney Williams layup. | ||
| 7:08 | | Brittney Griner with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 7:04 | | +2 | Natasha Cloud makes a layup. | 8-5 |
| 6:52 | | Diana Taurasi steals the ball from Kayla McBride. | ||
| 6:43 | | +2 | Kahleah Copper makes a jump shot from 3 feet out. Natasha Cloud with the assist. | 10-5 |
| 6:30 | | Personal foul committed by Diana Taurasi. | ||
| 6:21 | | Napheesa Collier misses a jump shot from 6 feet out. | ||
| 6:21 | | Brittney Griner with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:12 | | +3 | Diana Taurasi makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | 13-5 |
| 6:03 | | Lynx take a full timeout. | ||
| 5:43 | | Brittney Griner blocks a Kayla McBride jump shot from 10 feet out. | ||
| 5:43 | | Diana Taurasi with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 5:41 | | Diana Taurasi misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 5:41 | | Lynx with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 5:29 | | Bridget Carleton misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 5:29 | | Sophie Cunningham with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 5:14 | | Kahleah Copper with a turnover - Lost Ball | ||
| 5:06 | | +3 | Kayla McBride makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Napheesa Collier with the assist. | 13-8 |
| 4:45 | | +3 | Diana Taurasi makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | 16-8 |
| 4:36 | | +2 | Alanna Smith makes a layup. Courtney Williams with the assist. | 16-10 |
| 4:20 | | Technical foul committed by Alanna Smith. | ||
| 4:20 | | +1 | Diana Taurasi makes free throw 1 of 1. | 17-10 |
| 4:20 | | Substitution: Natasha Mack in for Diana Taurasi. | ||
| 4:20 | | Substitution: Celeste Taylor in for Brittney Griner. | ||
| 4:15 | | Natasha Mack misses a jump shot from 4 feet out. | ||
| 4:15 | | Alanna Smith with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 4:10 | | Sophie Cunningham steals the ball from Alanna Smith. | ||
| 3:52 | | Shooting foul committed by Alanna Smith. | ||
| 3:52 | | Kahleah Copper misses free throw 1 of 2. | ||
| 3:52 | | Mercury with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 3:52 | | Substitution: Myisha Hines-Allen in for Alanna Smith. | ||
| 3:52 | | +1 | Kahleah Copper makes free throw 2 of 2. | 18-10 |
| 3:35 | | Courtney Williams misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 3:35 | | Natasha Mack with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 3:17 | | Kahleah Copper misses a jump shot from 22 feet out. | ||
| 3:17 | | Myisha Hines-Allen with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 3:08 | | +2 | Napheesa Collier makes a layup. Courtney Williams with the assist. | 18-12 |
| 2:54 | | Shooting foul committed by Myisha Hines-Allen. | ||
| 2:54 | | +1 | Natasha Cloud makes free throw 1 of 2. | 19-12 |
| 2:54 | | Substitution: Cecilia Zandalasini in for Kayla McBride. | ||
| 2:54 | | Substitution: Diana Taurasi in for Kahleah Copper. | ||
| 2:54 | | Substitution: Monique Billings in for Sophie Cunningham. | ||
| 2:54 | | +1 | Natasha Cloud makes free throw 2 of 2. | 20-12 |
| 2:44 | | +2 | Napheesa Collier makes a layup. Courtney Williams with the assist. | 20-14 |
| 2:32 | | Celeste Taylor misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 2:32 | | Cecilia Zandalasini with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 2:20 | | Cecilia Zandalasini misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 2:20 | | Monique Billings with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 2:09 | | Diana Taurasi misses a 3-point jump shot from 30 feet out. | ||
| 2:09 | | Lynx with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 2:01 | | +3 | Bridget Carleton makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. Napheesa Collier with the assist. | 20-17 |
| 1:36 | | +2 | Natasha Mack makes a jump shot from 15 feet out. Natasha Cloud with the assist. | 22-17 |
| 1:16 | | +2 | Courtney Williams makes a jump shot from 8 feet out. | 22-19 |
| 1:06 | | +3 | Natasha Cloud makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | 25-19 |
| 54.5 | | Substitution: Natisha Hiedeman in for Courtney Williams. | ||
| 54.5 | | Substitution: Brittney Griner in for Natasha Mack. | ||
| 47.2 | | Cecilia Zandalasini misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | ||
| 47.2 | | Diana Taurasi with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 27.4 | | Diana Taurasi misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | ||
| 27.4 | | Bridget Carleton with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 21.2 | | Personal foul committed by Celeste Taylor. | ||
| 21.2 | | Substitution: Kahleah Copper in for Natasha Cloud. | ||
| 06.4 | | +2 | Napheesa Collier makes a jump shot from 6 feet out. Natisha Hiedeman with the assist. | 25-21 |
| 0.4 | | Napheesa Collier blocks a Kahleah Copper 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 0.4 | | Lynx with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 0.0 | | End of the 1st Quarter | ||
| 0.0 | | End of the 1st Quarter |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 | | Start of the 2nd Quarter | ||
| 9:52 | | +2 | Natisha Hiedeman makes a layup. Napheesa Collier with the assist. | 25-23 |
| 9:32 | | Kahleah Copper misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 9:32 | | Lynx with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 9:29 | | Jump Ball: Napheesa Collier vs. Brittney Griner. | ||
| 9:16 | | Brittney Griner misses a jump shot from 13 feet out. | ||
| 9:16 | | Napheesa Collier with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 9:06 | | +2 | Napheesa Collier makes a jump shot from 16 feet out. Natisha Hiedeman with the assist. | 25-25 |
| 8:51 | | Kahleah Copper with a turnover - Lost Ball | ||
| 8:34 | | Natisha Hiedeman misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 8:34 | | Kahleah Copper with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 8:23 | | +2 | Natasha Mack makes a jump shot from 10 feet out. Kahleah Copper with the assist. | 27-25 |
| 8:05 | | Personal foul committed by Natasha Mack. | ||
| 8:05 | | Substitution: Kayla McBride in for Myisha Hines-Allen. | ||
| 8:05 | | Substitution: Alanna Smith in for Cecilia Zandalasini. | ||
| 8:05 | | Substitution: Monique Billings in for Natasha Mack. | ||
| 8:05 | | Substitution: Natasha Cloud in for Diana Taurasi. | ||
| 7:56 | | +2 | Kayla McBride makes a layup. | 27-27 |
| 7:44 | | Sophie Cunningham misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | ||
| 7:44 | | Monique Billings with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 7:36 | | +2 | Monique Billings makes a layup. | 29-27 |
| 7:30 | | +2 | Alanna Smith makes a layup. Natisha Hiedeman with the assist. | 29-29 |
| 7:30 | | Shooting foul committed by Natasha Cloud. | ||
| 7:30 | | +1 | Alanna Smith makes free throw 1 of 1. | 29-30 |
| 7:16 | | Brittney Griner misses a jump shot from 6 feet out. | ||
| 7:16 | | Kahleah Copper with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 7:15 | | Kahleah Copper misses a layup. | ||
| 7:15 | | Kahleah Copper with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 7:13 | | Napheesa Collier blocks a Kahleah Copper layup. | ||
| 7:13 | | Mercury with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 7:07 | | Natasha Cloud misses a jump shot from 17 feet out. | ||
| 7:07 | | Alanna Smith with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 7:06 | | Personal foul committed by Natasha Cloud. | ||
| 7:06 | | +1 | Napheesa Collier makes free throw 1 of 1. | 29-31 |
| 7:06 | | Substitution: Celeste Taylor in for Natasha Cloud. | ||
| 6:55 | | Kayla McBride misses a layup. | ||
| 6:55 | | Alanna Smith with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 6:51 | | +3 | Bridget Carleton makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Alanna Smith with the assist. | 29-34 |
| 6:50 | | Mercury take a full timeout. | ||
| 6:50 | | Substitution: Diana Taurasi in for Monique Billings. | ||
| 6:39 | | Alanna Smith steals the ball from Diana Taurasi. | ||
| 6:24 | | Shooting foul committed by Sophie Cunningham. | ||
| 6:24 | | +1 | Napheesa Collier makes free throw 1 of 2. | 29-35 |
| 6:24 | | +1 | Napheesa Collier makes free throw 2 of 2. | 29-36 |
| 6:07 | | +2 | Brittney Griner makes a jump shot from 13 feet out. Celeste Taylor with the assist. | 31-36 |
| 5:48 | | +2 | Alanna Smith makes a layup. Natisha Hiedeman with the assist. | 31-38 |
| 5:35 | | Alanna Smith steals the ball from Diana Taurasi. | ||
| 5:29 | | +2 | Alanna Smith makes a layup. Kayla McBride with the assist. | 31-40 |
| 5:18 | | Personal foul committed by Bridget Carleton. | ||
| 5:18 | | Substitution: Natasha Cloud in for Celeste Taylor. | ||
| 5:18 | | Substitution: Natasha Mack in for Brittney Griner. | ||
| 5:14 | | +2 | Kahleah Copper makes a jump shot from 9 feet out. Sophie Cunningham with the assist. | 33-40 |
| 4:52 | | Personal foul committed by Kahleah Copper. | ||
| 4:52 | | +1 | Natisha Hiedeman makes free throw 1 of 2. | 33-41 |
| 4:52 | | +1 | Natisha Hiedeman makes free throw 2 of 2. | 33-42 |
| 4:42 | | Personal foul committed by Bridget Carleton. | ||
| 4:42 | | Substitution: Courtney Williams in for Natisha Hiedeman. | ||
| 4:30 | | +2 | Natasha Mack makes a layup. Diana Taurasi with the assist. | 35-42 |
| 4:17 | | Napheesa Collier misses a layup. | ||
| 4:17 | | Sophie Cunningham with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 4:08 | | Kahleah Copper misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 4:08 | | Bridget Carleton with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 4:00 | | Courtney Williams misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 4:00 | | Natasha Cloud with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 3:36 | | +2 | Natasha Mack makes a layup. Natasha Cloud with the assist. | 37-42 |
| 3:24 | | Lynx take a full timeout. | ||
| 3:24 | | Substitution: Celeste Taylor in for Kahleah Copper. | ||
| 3:24 | | Substitution: Monique Billings in for Diana Taurasi. | ||
| 3:18 | | Alanna Smith with a turnover - Backcourt | ||
| 3:10 | | Alanna Smith steals the ball from Sophie Cunningham. | ||
| 2:59 | | +3 | Napheesa Collier makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Courtney Williams with the assist. | 37-45 |
| 2:39 | | Natasha Cloud misses a jump shot from 19 feet out. |