Mercury claw back from 20-point deficit to stun Lynx, even series

The Minnesota Lynx entered Tuesday’s Game 2 matchup with a perfect 10-0 record against the Phoenix Mercury in WNBA playoff games at Minneapolis’ Target Center.

The Mercury snapped that streak with a comeback for the ages.

The No. 4 seed Mercury clawed back from a 20-point deficit to beat the No. 1 seed Lynx, 89-83, in overtime. It tied the third largest comeback in WNBA playoff history to even up the best-of-five series at one. The WNBA semifinal series shifts to Phoenix for Game 3 on Friday.

‘When we play like that we can do anything,’ said Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas, who finished with 18 points, 13 assists (playoff franchise record) and eight rebounds. ‘I’m just super proud we didn’t give up today.’

The Mercury outscored the Lynx 47-31 in the second half to erase Minnesota’s double-digit lead. Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb drained a 3-pointer with 4.3 seconds remaining to tie the game and send it to overtime. The shot was made possible by an offensive rebound from Thomas.

‘Credit to (Alyssa Thomas). I took a terrible shot before that and she got the rebound,’ said Whitcomb, who had 13 points, six assists and two steals off the bench. ‘We all trust each other to take those shots, so I’m blessed they trusted me with that.’

Lynx forward Napheesa Collier had a shot to win the game on her 29th birthday, but missed a potential game-winning jumper as time expired. The Mercury went on to outscore the Lynx 10-4 in overtime to secure the vcitory. The Mercury avoided falling into a 0-2 deficit, which no team in WNBA history has recovered from in a best-of-five series.

Watch Lynx-Mercury series with Fubo

Collier finished 24 points, six rebounds, three steals, two blocks and one assist. Kayla McBride added 21 points, while Courtney Williams had 20 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and three steals. Minnesota’s bench scored three points.

Here’s what you missed in Game 2 between the Lynx and Mercury:

End of regulation: Lynx 79, Mercury 79

We’re heading to overtime in Minnesota!

The Lynx led by as many as 20 points in Game 2, but the Mercury surged back and came within one point with 25.2 seconds remaining in regulation. Lynx guard Courtney Williams knocked down two clutch free throws with 20.7 remaining to stretch the Lynx’s lead back to three points, 79-76.

Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb responded by hitting a 3-pointer with 4.3 seconds remaining to tie the game at 79 following an offensive rebound from Alyssa Thomas. Lynx forward Napheesa Collier had a good look at the basket but missed a game-winning jumper that would have given the Lynx a commanding 2-0 series lead.

The Mercury outscored the Lynx 47-31 in the second half.

End of Q3: Lynx 62, Mercury 54

The Lynx led by as many as 20 points in the third quarter, but the Mercury outscored the Lynx 22-14 in the third quarter to come within eight.

The Mercury went on a 12-0 run fueled by seven Lynx turnovers in the third quarter.

Lynx forward Napheesa Collier has a game-high 20 points, three rebounds and three steals, while Mercury forward Satou Sabally leads the Mercury with 13 points and four rebounds. Alyssa Thomas is up to 10 points, eight assists and two rebounds.

The Mercury have gotten the 3-ball going and are 8-of-19 from behind the arc. The Lynx are 6-of-22 from 3.

Halftime: Lynx 48, Mercury 32

The Lynx outscored the Mercury 27-13 in the second quarter to take a 16-point lead into halftime.

Lynx forward Napheesa Collier leads all scorers with 17 points, three steals and two rebounds. Kayla McBride scored 11 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Courtney Williams is on double-double watch with 10 points and five assists, while Alanna Smith added nine points, six rebounds and two blocks.

Mercury forward Satou Sabally is the only Phoenix player in double digits, although all 10 of her points came in the first quarter. Alyssa Thomas is up to six points, shooting a dismal 2-of-7 from the field, and Kahleah Copper added five points and two assists.

Phoenix has committed nine turnovers, which has led to 11 points for Minnesota, and is losing the battle of the boards (19-14), in the paint (20-16) and in transition (9 point on the fast break for the Lynx compared to 4 for the Mercury). The Lynx attempted eight more field goals than the Mercury in the first half.

WNBA schedule tonight

The semifinal round of the WNBA playoffs resumes on Tuesday, Sept. 23 with two Game 2 matchups:

Game 2: Phoenix Mercury at Minnesota Lynx (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Game 2: Indiana Fever at Las Vegas Aces (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

End of Q1: Lynx 21, Mercury 19

Lynx forward Napheesa Collier is having a great start to her birthday, recording a team-high nine points, three steals, one rebound and one assist in the first quarter. Alanna Smith added six points, four rebounds and two blocks. The Lynx are collectively shooting 52.9% from the field and 2-of-7 from 3.

Sabally said she’s able to bounce back from an off night by ‘just trusting your game. If you have a game where you don’t make as many points, it’s OK … Consistency wins always.’

Lynx up early with 7-0 run

The Minnesota Lynx went on a 7-0 run with 4:39 remaining in the first quarter, capped by a 3-point shot from Lynx guard Kayla McBride to take a 14-10 lead. Alanna Smith added six points and three rebounds, while Napheesa Collier is up to five points.

Kahleah Copper and Satou Sabally each have three points for the Mercury.

What time is Lynx vs. Mercury Game 2?

Game 2 of the WNBA semifinal series between the No. 1 seed Minnesota Lynx and No. 4 seed Phoenix Mercury is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET.

How to watch Lynx vs. Mercury WNBA playoffs: TV, stream for Game 2

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Target Center (Minneapolis)
TV: ESPN
Stream: Fubo, ESPN Unlimited

Minnesota Lynx starting lineup

Head coach: Cheryl Reeve

6 Bridget Carleton | F 6′ 2′ – Iowa State
8 Alanna Smith | F 6′ 4′ – Stanford
10 Courtney Williams | G 5′ 8′ – South Florida
21 Kayla McBride | G 5′ 11′ – Notre Dame
24 Napheesa Collier | F 6′ 1′ – UConn

Minnesota Lynx injury report

Lynx guard Dijonai Carrington (left foot) has been ruled out the remainder of the postseason with a significant mid-foot sprain suffered in the Lynx’s Game 1 win against the Golden State Valkyries on September 17.

Phoenix Mercury starting lineup

Head coach: Nate Tibbetts

0 Satou Sabally | F 6′ 4′ – Oregon
2 Kahleah Copper | G 6′ 1′ – Rutgers
4 Natasha Mack | C 6′ 4′ – Oklahoma State
8 Monique Akoa Makani | G 5′ 11′ – Cameroon
25 Alyssa Thomas | F 6′ 2′ – Maryland

Phoenix Mercury injury report

The Phoenix Mercury have all players available for Game 2.

WNBA playoffs 2025: Lynx vs. Mercury scores, results and schedule

Lynx leads best-of-five WNBA semifinal series, 1-0

Game 1: Lynx 82, Mercury 69
Game 2: Mercury at Lynx, 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday (ESPN)
Game 3: Lynx at Mercury, 10:30 p.m. ET on Friday (ESPN2)
Game 4: Lynx at Mercury, TBD on Sunday*
Game 5: Mercury at Lynx, TBD on Sept. 30*

*if necessary

WNBA playoff format

The WNBA playoffs is made up of three rounds. The first round features a best-of-three series (1-1-1), the semifinal round is a best-of-five series (2-2-1) and the 2025 WNBA Finals moved to a best-of-seven series (2-2-1-1-1) for the first time in league history.

Napheesa Collier arrives in style on birthday

Happy Birthday, Napheesa Collier!

The Minnesota forward turned 29 on Tuesday, Sept. 23 and is hoping for a Game 2 dub as a birthday present. Collier arrived to Target Center in a black leather jacket, paired with a black skirt that featured a high slit. She finished her birthday look off with a pair of black boots and pink highlights in her hair, a nod to the Stud Budz.

Phoenix Mercury arrivals

The Phoenix Mercury have arrived at Target Center.

Phoenix Mercury roster

Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas stats

Thomas averaged 15.4 points, a league-leading 9.2 assists and 7.2 rebounds in 39 games (all starts) this season. The 33-year-old recorded eight triple-doubles, a WNBA single-season record. Thomas, who was traded to the Mercury in February following 11 seasons in Connecticut, has averaged 16.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.3 assists in four games during the 2025 playoffs.

Phoenix Mercury guard Satou Sabally stats

Sabally is looking to bounce back from a particularly rough shooting night in Game 1. She recorded 10 points in the Mercury’s loss to the Lynx on Sunday, shooting 3-of-11 from the field and 0-of-5 from the 3-point line. Sabally averaged 16.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 39 games (all starts), shooting 40.5% from the field and 32.1%.

Minnesota Lynx roster

Lynx forward Napheesa Collier stats

Napheesa Collier finished second in WNBA MVP voting after averaging career-highs in points (22.9), field-goal percentage (53.1%) and blocks (1.5). She ranked top 10 in the league in points, field-goal percentage, rebounds (7.3), blocks and steals (1.6) per game and became the second player in WNBA history to join the exclusive 50-40-90 club, recording 50% shooting from the field, 40% from the 3-point line and 90% from the free throw line in a season. (Elena Delle Donne did it in 2019.)

Meet the ‘Stud Budz’

The ‘Stud Budz,’ made up of Minnesota Lynx teammates Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman, took the world by storm with their 72-hour live stream during WNBA All-Star weekend in Indianapolis.

‘It really started off as two friends, we knew about Twitch, and said, ‘Let’s just start streaming,” Hiedeman told USA TODAY Studio IX in July. ‘It’s a platform that’s unique, that really no one in the W has touched, so we was like, ‘Let’s be the first ones.”

The duo is known for their signature pink hair. During the first round of the playoffs, a 101-72 Game 1 victory over the Golden Valkyries, fans with pink wigs could be seen in the stands. The Lynx also gave the wigs away in the final game of the regular season. Read full story here.

Can the Minnesota Lynx channel 2017 magic for another title?

The Minnesota Lynx have a chip on their shoulder. After losing the 2024 WNBA Finals to the New York Liberty in a winner-take-all Game 5 that went to overtime, Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve emphatically called out “disappointing officiating,” saying the championship was “stolen from us.”

The heartbreaking loss lingers 10 months later, as the league-leading Lynx are in position to make another deep playoff run. “You feel that loss for a long time,” Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman told USA TODAY Sports. It has been the driving force behind the Lynx’s record-breaking season with the same goal: Winning a championship.

Read Cydney Henderson’s full story on the Lynx’s redemption season here.

WNBA MVP 2025

A’ja Wilson was named the WNBA’s Most Valuable Player for the 2025 season. She is the first four-time MVP, besting three-time winners Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson.

Wilson received 51 of 72 first-place votes and 21 second-place votes (657 points) from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. The Las Vegas Aces center won the award over finalists Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (534), Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (391), Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (180) and Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (93).

2025 WNBA Finals schedule