Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier takes a shot during her team's 90-81 win against the Connecticut Sun in Uncasville on Friday. (Jessica Hill/The Associated Press)
Napheesa Collier's standout performance powered the Minnesota Lynx to a 90-81 victory over the Connecticut Sun, giving them a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five WNBA semifinal series. Collier, who struggled in the first two games, found her rhythm in Game 3, scoring 26 points, with 16 of those in the first half. Her aggressive play led to a 12-point advantage by halftime, which the Lynx held onto despite Connecticut's attempts to rally.
The Sun, led by Brionna Jones with 21 points and DeWanna Bonner with 16, managed to reduce the gap to seven points in the third quarter but couldn’t push past Minnesota’s solid defence. Bonner also reached a personal milestone, surpassing Candace Parker to become the second-highest scorer in WNBA postseason history with 1,159 points. While Connecticut’s starters all scored in double digits, their bench contributed little, getting outscored 16-4 by Minnesota’s reserves.
The victory puts Minnesota just one win away from advancing to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2017, a year that capped off their championship era. Game 4 will take place in Connecticut, where the Lynx aim to close out the series and book their ticket to the Finals.
Throughout the series, both teams have prided themselves on physical, defensive play, but the usual roughness was noticeably absent in Game 3. The series has also been marked by light-hearted trash talk between former teammates Courtney Williams and Marina Mabrey, who insist that there's no animosity between them despite their on-court banter.
Tiffany Hayes Named WNBA Sixth Person of the Year
In other WNBA news, Las Vegas Aces guard Tiffany Hayes was named the league's Sixth Person of the Year. Hayes received the honour after coming off the bench for most of her 12th WNBA season. She played in 33 of Las Vegas’ 40 regular-season games, starting just five but contributing significantly with an average of 9.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. This recognition marks the fifth time in six years that a Las Vegas player has won the award.
Hayes, who briefly announced her retirement before joining the Aces this season, has been a critical asset for the team, particularly with her 40 percent shooting from beyond the arc. She received her award just before Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals between the Aces and the New York Liberty.
