Lynx Dominate Mercury with 88-65 Victory, Powered by Collier's Performance

Napheesa Collier showcased her skills with 18 points and 11 rebounds as the Minnesota Lynx triumphed over the Phoenix Mercury, 88-65, on Tuesday night. This victory marks the Lynx's second win in just five days against the Mercury.

With this win, Minnesota has achieved an impressive 8-0 start to the season, matching the total number of undefeated starts across all other WNBA teams combined throughout history.

After falling behind 23-14 late in the first quarter, the Lynx rallied, outscoring the Mercury 49-23 to establish a commanding 63-46 lead with just under three minutes remaining in the third quarter.

A pivotal moment came midway through the fourth when Minnesota launched a 9-0 run, highlighted by a three-point play from Collier and consecutive three-pointers from Bridget Carleton and Kayla McBride, extending their lead to 80-56.

McBride, Alanna Smith, and Karlie Samuelson each contributed significantly, hitting three of the Lynx's 12 three-pointers. Smith and McBride both added 13 points to the scoreboard, with McBride also leading the team with seven assists. The Lynx recorded a season-high 29 assists on 34 field goals, although they struggled with ball control, committing 23 turnovers.

For the Mercury, Lexi Held led with 16 points while Satou Sabally added 15 points and eight rebounds. Kitija Laksa chipped in with 10 points. Notably, Sabally scored her first points of the second half with just under seven minutes left in the game.

This matchup follows a close contest on Friday where the Lynx edged out the Mercury 74-71, a game in which Collier did not participate due to a lingering knee injury.