SportyTV - App
App
Log In
article-image

WNBA: Lynx rally past Valkyries to advance

0
0
Clock Icon2 daysBasketball

Napheesa Collier made a go-ahead 18-footer with 1:24 left on the way to 24 points, and the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx rallied from a 17-point, third-quarter deficit to beat the Golden State Valkyries 75-74 on Wednesday night and move on in the WNBA playoffs.

Collier shot 10 for 16 and followed up her 20-point performance in Game 1 with a 14-point second half to bring her team back and give the Lynx another chance to keep chasing that championship they just missed last year.

The Valkyries had one final chance with four seconds remaining following a shot-clock violation, and Cecilia Zandalasini couldn't convert a jumper.

Kayla McBride made a go-ahead scoop shot for Minnesota with 2:48 to go after DiJonai Carrington connected on a 3-pointer from the left corner with 3:18 remaining to pull Minnesota within 70-69. McBride finished with 18 points.

Veronica Burton had 13 points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals as the expansion Valkyries nearly extended their special season. Monique Billings scored 15 off the bench.

Mercury beat Liberty to stay alive

Satou Sabally and Alyssa Thomas each scored 15 points to help the Phoenix Mercury defeat the New York Liberty 86-60 in Game 2, evening the best-of-three playoff series.

The decisive Game 3 will be Friday night in Phoenix.

Sabally was coming off one of the worst shooting games of her career when she was 2 for 17 in Game 1, but said in practice Tuesday that she was confident she'd bounce back.

Kahleah Copper and DeWanna Bonner each had 14 points for Phoenix.

New York had a huge emotional lift before the game with Breanna Stewart able to play after spraining the MCL in her left knee in overtime of Game 1 on Sunday. She was in her customary starting spot but was mostly ineffective with just six points in 20 minutes. The boost from Stewart playing didn't last long.

After the 75-69 Game 1 loss, Phoenix players felt they missed a lot of shots they normally hit. Those shots were falling in this one.

Phoenix led by 14 at the half and scored the first six points of the third quarter to take a 20-point lead. The Mercury held the Liberty without a basket in the third until Emma Meesseman scored with 1:35 left in the period. New York missed its first 12 shots before that.