Napheesa Collier delivered an outstanding performance with 26 points and 11 rebounds, leading the Minnesota Lynx vs Sun to a 90-81 win over the Connecticut Sun on Friday night in Uncasville, Connecticut, during Game 3 of their WNBA semifinal series.
With this victory, Minnesota now holds a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series and is just one win away from securing a spot in the WNBA Finals. Game 4 will take place on Sunday in Uncasville, where the Lynx will have the chance to close out the series.
Collier was a key player for the Lynx, shooting 11-of-19 from the field, while Minnesota’s offense flowed smoothly, racking up 22 assists. Courtney Williams contributed 16 points and dished out eight assists, Kayla McBride added 13 points, and Bridget Carleton chipped in with 12.
For the Sun, all five starters reached double digits in scoring, with Brionna Jones leading the charge with 21 points. DeWanna Bonner added 16 points, and Marina Mabrey scored 14 despite struggling from beyond the arc, hitting just 1-of-11 three-point attempts. Alyssa Thomas, known for her triple-double potential, nearly added another with 13 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.
Minnesota outshot Connecticut 57.4% to 41.1% from the field.
Mabrey finally found her rhythm in the third quarter, scoring seven points in the first few minutes to pull Connecticut within seven, 54-47. However, a costly foul by Mabrey on Carleton’s three-point attempt quickly shifted the momentum back to Minnesota, as Carleton hit all three free throws to push the lead back to double digits.
Minnesota maintained control for the remainder of the third quarter, building a 68-54 advantage heading into the final period. Despite a late push from Connecticut, including a clutch and-one from Bonner with 1:20 left that cut the deficit to 86-79, the Lynx held their ground. Quick jumpers from Williams and Carleton sealed the win for Minnesota.
Collier set the tone early, scoring eight points in the first quarter as Minnesota jumped out to a 23-16 lead. Connecticut briefly narrowed the gap in the second quarter, but the Lynx responded with a decisive 20-9 run, taking a commanding 46-32 lead. By halftime, they were up 48-36 and never looked back.
