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The highly anticipated Game 5 between the Minnesota Lynx and the Connecticut Sun turned out to be anticlimactic.
The Lynx proved they were the better team by beating the Sun 88-77. Despite the close score, Minnesota dominated the game, leading by as much as 24 points and maintaining a double-digit lead for most of the contest.
Napheesa Collier shone in the winner-take-all game with an impressive performance of 27 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks. Courtney Williams also played a crucial role for the Lynx, scoring 24 points and outplaying the Sun guards.
On the Sun side, the starters performed decently, with DiJonai Carrington scoring 17 points and Marina Mabrey contributing eight points off the bench. However, it wasn’t enough in a crucial must-win game on the road.
Minnesota’s Dominant First Half
Although Connecticut started strong with a 9-2 run, Minnesota quickly took control of the game. The Lynx went on a 10-0 run, with Kayla McBride hitting consecutive three-pointers.
Led by Williams and Collier, the Lynx ended the first quarter with a commanding 31-18 lead after a series of successful plays.
Sun head coach Stephanie White acknowledged the tough start for her team, saying:
They came out strong and established an early lead. It was a challenge for us to overcome such a deficit in the first quarter.
Minnesota continued to extend their lead throughout the first half, with Natisha Hiedeman’s three-pointer giving them a 19-point advantage at halftime.
The Lynx’s Unrelenting Performance
Despite a brief comeback attempt by the Sun in the third quarter, the Lynx maintained their lead and eventually stretched it to 24 points.
With stellar performances from Williams and Collier, Minnesota secured their spot in the WNBA Finals with a convincing win.
Head coach Cheryl Reeve expressed pride in her team’s performance and emphasized the importance of their defensive effort in closing out the series.
The Lynx will now face the New York Liberty in the WNBA Finals, aiming for their fifth championship title. The Finals will kick off on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
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