If you want evidence of why WNBA basketball is so much fun to watch right now, take a look at the recent shootout between the Minnesota Lynx and the Phoenix Mercury. The energy inside the Target Center was absolutely electric from tip-off to the final buzzer.
Fans were treated to an instant classic as the hometown Lynx edged out a stubborn Phoenix squad, 104-100. It was the kind of game where you were afraid to blink, knowing you might miss a massive highlight.
Neither team was willing to back down or give an inch of space. The scoreboard was a swinging pendulum all night, featuring a wild 23 lead changes and 13 different ties.
Both squads were in a serious rhythm, shooting a blistering 55% from the floor. Because the offense was flowing so well for both teams, every single possession felt like it had playoff-level stakes.
The McBride and Miles Show
The biggest story of the night was the absolute masterclass put on by Minnesota’s backcourt. When the Lynx needed a crucial bucket to stop a Phoenix run, Kayla McBride and Olivia Miles delivered time and time again.
McBride was completely dialed in from three-point land. She poured in a season-high 37 points, falling just a single point shy of her career-best. Whenever the Mercury built up momentum, McBride was right there to quiet the Phoenix bench with another massive, timely shot.
Right beside her, rookie sensation Olivia Miles showed out in a big way. She dropped a career-high 33 points and handed out eight assists, directing the fast break like a seasoned veteran rather than a first-year player.
Even better, Miles made WNBA history during the game. She officially became the fastest player in the league’s history to reach 400 points, 100 rebounds, and 100 assists, hitting that impressive milestone in only 22 games.
Phoenix Refused to Quit
Despite walking away with the loss, the Phoenix Mercury deserve a massive amount of credit. They came into a hostile arena and pushed one of the top teams in the Western Conference to the absolute brink.
Kahleah Copper was a nightmare for the Minnesota defense to contain. She paced the Mercury with 26 points, shooting an incredibly efficient 9-for-14 from the floor. Whenever Phoenix needed a spark, Copper stepped up and provided it.
Running the show for Phoenix was Alyssa Thomas, who spent the whole evening flirting heavily with a triple-double. She finished with 19 points, eight rebounds, and a game-high 12 assists. Her court vision was just on another level, always finding seams in the Lynx defense and giving her teammates easy opportunities.
A Wild Final Minute
As the clock ticked down to the final minute, the game was deadlocked at 98-98. The tension in the arena was thick, but Minnesota’s execution in the last 30 seconds was totally flawless.
With just 45 seconds left, McBride found a tiny pocket of space and buried a cold-blooded three-pointer to take the lead. Phoenix answered quickly, but the Lynx kept their cool under pressure.
Miles put her head down, drove hard into the paint to collapse the defense, and zipped a perfect pass to Natasha Howard. Howard easily laid it in to push the lead back to three with only 21 seconds remaining.
The game was finally put on ice by Courtney Williams on the defensive end. Anticipating the play perfectly, she stripped the ball away for a crucial steal. The Lynx finished off the night with an exciting win, moving to a stellar 18-6 record and giving Minneapolis fans plenty to cheer about on their way home.
