The Minnesota Lynx are on the verge of advancing to the WNBA Finals after securing a 90-81 victory against the Connecticut Sun in Game 3 of their semifinal series. With this win, the Lynx now lead the best-of-five series 2-1.
Despite a late effort from the Sun, who narrowed the margin to 86-79 with just 1:20 left in the fourth quarter, the Lynx maintained control throughout the game. Key jump shots from Courtney Williams and Bridget Carleton in the final minute helped cement Minnesota’s victory.
Napheesa Collier made a significant impact, rebounding from a nine-point performance in Game 2 to score 26 points and grab 11 rebounds in Game 3. She finished the first half with 16 points, hitting 7 of 10 shots and exceeding her scoring average for the first two games of the series.
Williams contributed 16 points and eight assists, while Kayla McBride added 13 points along with five assists. Carleton chipped in 12 points and six rebounds.
On the Sun’s side, DeWanna Bonner scored 16 points, passing Candace Parker to move into second place on the WNBA’s all-time playoff scoring list with 1,159 points. Only her former Phoenix Mercury teammate, Diana Taurasi, holds more postseason points.
Brionna Jones led the Sun with 21 points, four rebounds, and five assists, with Marina Mabrey contributing 14 points and Alyssa Thomas adding 13 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists while playing the entire 40 minutes. DiJonai Carrington also scored 13 points with five rebounds.
Although all five Sun starters scored in double figures, their bench could only muster four points, while the Lynx’s reserves tallied 16 points. Connecticut’s struggles from beyond the arc were evident, shooting just 3-for-20 on three-point attempts, with Mabrey going 1-for-11.
Ultimately, the Sun shot 41% from the field, with only Jones and Thomas achieving 50% shooting or better, while Minnesota excelled with a 57.4% shooting percentage. Collier hit 11 of 19 shots, and Williams was 7 of 10.
Game 4 is set for Sunday, where the Lynx will have the chance to clinch their spot in the WNBA Finals.