Lynx top Sun 77-70 in Game 2 to even WNBA semifinals behind Collier’s supporting cast
Courtney Williams contributed 17 points, while Alanna Smith added 15 points, enabling the Lynx to compensate for a subpar performance from star player Napheesa Collier and secure a 77-70 victory over the Connecticut Sun. This win allowed the series to be tied at one game each in the best-of-five WNBA semifinal series on Tuesday.
Collier, who had scored a total of 80 points during the two-game sweep against Phoenix in the first round, managed only nine points on 3-for-14 shooting in this matchup. Despite her scoring struggles, she led the Lynx with 12 rebounds and five assists, willingly allowing her teammates to take the lead against a determined opponent.
“We need to match their energy. In the first game, they were vocal and animated, so we had to respond in kind,” Williams remarked. “This is playoff basketball, after all.”
Alyssa Thomas recorded 18 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists for the Sun, who struggled with their shooting, making only 5 of 20 attempts from beyond the arc. DeWanna Bonner contributed 17 points, while Marina Mabrey scored 15 points on 4-for-14 shooting, following her 20-point performance in the series opener.
“We were not satisfied with our approach in the first game. I believe we played reasonably well, only losing by three points. We recognized the need to elevate our game and support one another,” stated Smith, who played alongside Williams in Chicago last year.
Connecticut is set to host Game 3 on Friday and Game 4 on Sunday, with Game 5, if required, scheduled to take place in Minnesota on October 8. In the other semifinal series, New York currently holds a 2-0 advantage over the defending champion Las Vegas.
The Lynx maintained an impressive record of 30-10 as the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, never suffering consecutive losses at home this season. Their 73-70 loss in Game 1 served as motivation for a determined response in a matchup that often resembled a physical football game rather than basketball.
Myisha Hines-Allen made a challenging bank shot from the corner just before halftime, allowing the Lynx to take a 36-30 lead and providing them with a boost of momentum as they headed into the break.
“They were the aggressors tonight. Their defensive play was assertive and physical, preventing us from establishing our offense. They countered every run we attempted,” remarked Sun coach Stephanie White.
Smith, a shot-blocking expert who has played for four different teams in as many seasons, has rejuvenated her career in Minnesota under the guidance of coach Cheryl Reeve, two years after her release from Indiana. She made a 3-pointer early in the third quarter, extending the lead to 41-30 and prompting a timeout from Connecticut.
Williams contributed 11 points in the third quarter, accounting for half of her team's scoring during that period, which shifted the frustration more towards the Sun after the Lynx had experienced their own challenges earlier. Reeve, who has won four WNBA championships with a now-legendary team, faces her first significant playoff challenge with the current roster.
“I believe that experiencing adversity is essential for success. One must navigate through challenges and endure the difficulties to reach the ultimate goal,” Reeve stated. “If it were easy, everyone would achieve it.”
The two top defensive teams from the regular season—the Sun, allowing an average of 73.6 points per game, and the Lynx, permitting 75.6—were prominently featured in a grueling first quarter, during which the first 14 shots failed to find the basket and both teams committed two turnovers within the first four minutes.
Collier faced persistent double-teams and began the game with a shooting performance of 1 for 6. The Sun aimed not only to restrict the four-time All-Star from accessing her preferred areas on the court but also to provoke her. At one moment, Mabrey exerted additional physicality while contesting a loose ball near the paint, resulting in a tense stare down between the two prominent players.
“It’s the playoffs, so the game will be physical, and there will be tense moments. It’s a matter of winning or going home,” Bonner remarked. “Everyone is eager to succeed, which elevates the emotions. It’s simply two competitive teams striving for victory.”
Later in the second quarter, Kayla McBride made contact with Mabrey's neck using her forearm as she advanced on a fast break toward the basket. Following an exchange of words and a slight push between the two former Notre Dame players—who missed each other by two years—McBride received a technical foul.
Despite Collier struggling to find her rhythm, McBride contributed 11 points for the Lynx, aiding their recovery from a challenging 2-for-15 start from the field.
“We implemented our switches and aimed to make catches and shots challenging. However, they demonstrated as a team why they have been successful; their balance is impressive,” White stated. “While we managed to limit Phee, they excelled from beyond the arc, which is an area we need to address. We must prevent them from dominating the offensive boards.”
SportsLigue