Napheesa Collier had 27 factors and 11 rebounds and Courtney Williams scored 24 factors whereas contributing at each ends of the court docket to guide the Minnesota Lynx previous the Connecticut Solar 88-77 and into the WNBA finals for the primary time in seven years.
Kayla McBride fueled a robust begin with 10 of her 19 factors within the first quarter for the Lynx, who superior to face the top-seeded New York Liberty in Sport 1 on Thursday evening.
The Lynx, who completed second within the league and two video games behind the Liberty in the course of the common season, have received three of 4 matchups with New York this 12 months. That features the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup on 25 June to take the in-season match title.
DiJonai Carrington had 17 factors and 12 rebounds and Brionna Jones had 16 factors and 10 rebounds for the Solar, who shot solely 38.5% from the ground (25 for 65) on Tuesday evening, and have been flustered into 19 turnovers that the Lynx transformed into 22 factors.
DeWanna Bonner had 14 factors on 4-for-13 taking pictures for the Solar, who have been ousted within the semi-finals for the fourth time in six years. They misplaced within the finals in these different two seasons, 2019 and 2022, when Williams was a part of the core that also hasn’t cleared that final hurdle to the franchise’s first title.
Williams, who’s in her first 12 months with Minnesota, was on a mission to make it there from the tip. The fiery ninth-year level guard was the catalyst on each ends of the ground, attacking the basket, pushing the tempo on the break and pestering the Connecticut ball-handlers. Williams had her most factors in a playoff sport since 2019 and added seven assists, 5 rebounds and two steals.
The Lynx constructed a lead as massive as 21 factors within the second quarter, six greater than their greatest of any of the primary 4 video games. They’d a sluggish begin to the second half that was muted by the Solar’s chilly taking pictures, earlier than Alanna Smith swished a three-pointer to finish a 4:22 scoreless skid. Then Williams swiped the ball away from Bonner as she drove to the basket and sped the opposite manner for a layup and a 58-41 lead. Collier drained a three-pointer to cap that 12-0 run.
Connecticut eradicated Minnesota right here within the decisive Sport 3 of the primary spherical final season. Since successful Sport 5 of the WNBA finals in 2017 for his or her fourth championship in seven years, the Lynx have been simply 1-4 in winner-take-all video games within the playoffs.
The ambiance at Goal Heart matched the second, with a raucous crowd that included former Lynx star and Corridor of Fame member Lindsay Whalen and Minnesota Vikings working again Aaron Jones.
Collier, who averaged 40 factors within the two-game sweep of the Phoenix Mercury within the first spherical and had 29 factors and 13 rebounds at Connecticut in Sport 4, was her common cool self with the arrogance and dedication of a star chasing her first championship.
Alyssa Thomas had a quiet seven factors and 6 assists for the Solar, who trailed by double digits for all however 12 seconds of the ultimate three quarters. Marina Mabrey, who got here off the bench for the second straight sport, damage her leg within the first half from a clumsy step on the baseline and performed 14 minutes.
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