Napheesa Collier spearheaded the Minnesota Lynx’s stunning 76–70 triumph over the Connecticut Sun on Friday night at Target Center. Scoring 33 points and securing 11 rebounds, Collier played a pivotal role as the Lynx overcame a 15-point deficit late in the game to extend their undefeated start to 4–0, marking their strongest season opening since 2017. This dramatic comeback highlights Collier’s impact as the team’s offensive leader and a key figure in their quest for success.

Collier Voices Concerns About Lynx’s Championship Readiness

Despite the victory, Collier emphasized that the performance falls short of championship standards. She candidly remarked,

“This is not what it looks like to be a championship team,”

after the win. The Lynx faced a challenging situation, trailing 68–53 with just over five minutes remaining, but their defensive surge and Collier’s clutch scoring—10 points in the final stretch—helped Minnesota outscore the Sun 23–2 to complete their comeback.

Head coach Cheryl Reeve shared similar concerns about the team’s overall defensive showing throughout the game. She lamented,

“Of those 40 minutes, we played five of them defensively,”

adding,

“We had some solid stretches, but not enough to do the dictating,”

underscoring the need for greater consistency.

Defense Emerges as the Critical Factor in Lynx’s Late Rally

Reeve credited the team’s energy shift in the closing minutes as the key to victory but cautioned against expecting such intensity to rely solely on urgent moments.

“If the last five minutes is that light bulb, that would be great,”

she said, while also expressing frustration over the officiating against Collier, describing it as a “terrible whistle.”

Defensively, the Lynx clamped down on Connecticut’s Marina Mabrey in the decisive phase, limiting her to two points after an effective start. The team forced 23 turnovers and capitalized on them, outscoring the Sun 27–15 in the final quarter. Natasha Hiedeman contributed a crucial three-pointer near the end that gave Minnesota its first lead of the night with less than two minutes remaining.

Collier’s all-around performance included 3 blocks and 3 steals, alongside her scoring and rebounding efforts, achieved across 38 minutes on the court. Bench contributor Jessica Shepard added 13 points and 6 rebounds, with Shepard praising Collier’s consistency and impact:

“She’s the most consistent player in the league,”

she said.

“Without her today, it’s a rough basketball game.”

Early Game Challenges Highlight Areas Needing Improvement for Title Pursuit

The Lynx’s slow starts have persisted this season, as Minnesota trailed early yet managed to rally late in consecutive games. Prior to Friday’s contest, they fell behind Dallas 15–5 before eventually triumphing 85–81. Against the Sun, their sluggishness lasted through halftime and deep into the fourth quarter. Reeve stressed that dependence on late surges is unsustainable, saying,

“We just didn’t have a way about us that demonstrated a sense of urgency and being hard to play against.”

Offensively, the team relied heavily on Collier, who now leads the WNBA with an average of 29.5 points per game and boasts impressive shooting percentages: 56% from the field, 54% from three-point range, and 93.5% from the free-throw line. However, other players struggled, with Courtney Williams missing all 11 of her shot attempts and Bridget Carleton shooting 2-for-11.

Reeve Focuses on Defensive Fortitude to Sustain Championship Aspirations

Defense remains a central focus for Reeve, who has coached the Lynx to four WNBA championships. Minnesota ranked third last season in defensive rating but narrowly missed out on another title after losing in the Finals. As Reeve pointed out, Collier’s activity on defense and ability to lead fast breaks—helping the Lynx reach a 22–8 fast break advantage—played a major role in this game’s outcome. The team also dominated the boards, winning the rebounding battle 43–27.

Looking ahead, the Lynx prepare to face the Los Angeles Sparks, with Collier continuing to anchor a team determined to recover from last year’s Finals disappointment and chase another championship.