By: Betty Cantley
Photo from Getty Images
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – The Phoenix Mercury defeated the Minnesota Lynx 89-83 in a thrilling overtime game to tie their best-of-five Semifinal series at 1-1. The Mercury’s win was a historic one, as they came back from a 20-point deficit in the second half.
It was a historic comeback, the Mercury trailed by 20 points midway through the third quarter, but they chipped away at the lead, eventually forcing overtime. The comeback is tied for the third-largest in WNBA playoff history.
Satou Sabally led the Mercury with 24 points, with 11 of those coming in the fourth quarter. Alyssa Thomas, a Co-Defensive Player of the year candidate was a force on both ends of the floor, finishing with 19 points, 13 assists (a franchise playoff record), and eight rebounds.
Sami Whitcomb hit a clutch three-pointer with four seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 79 and send it to overtime. In the extra period, the Mercury scored the first six points and held on for the win.
The Lynx, who were celebrating Napheesa Collier’s 29th birthday, had a complete collapse.They were outscored 40-23 in the second half overtime. Collier finished with 24 points, and Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams had 21 and 20 points, respectively, but their bench was outscored 25-3.
The series is now tied at 1-1, and the action shifts to Phoenix for game 3 on Friday.