The Minnesota Lynx saved their season from slipping right into a decisive Recreation 3 with a livid final-quarter push that left the enlargement Golden State Valkyries surprised. Down 14 coming into the fourth, Minnesota stormed again to safe a 75–74 win Wednesday evening and full a two-game sweep within the first spherical of the WNBA playoffs.
The rally rewrote historical past. Because the WNBA adopted quarters in 2006, the Lynx had been 0–76 in video games the place they trailed by at the very least 14 heading into the fourth, common season or playoffs. That streak ended when Napheesa Collier, who completed with 24 factors, knocked down the go-ahead jumper with 1:24 left, the second that swung the sequence. The win not solely despatched the Lynx into the semifinals but additionally denied Golden State the prospect to increase its historic inaugural season.
The Valkyries, who turned the primary WNBA enlargement crew to achieve the playoffs in Yr 1, managed the sport for 3 quarters behind Veronica Burton’s playmaking and Monique Billings’ scoring off the bench. They led by double digits many of the evening, feeding off a crowd of 18,543 that had relocated almost 50 miles south from San Francisco due to a scheduling battle at Chase Heart.
However the closing 10 minutes belonged to Minnesota. DiJonai Carrington’s 3-pointer sparked the rally, Kayla McBride scored 18 factors and hit the shot that put the Lynx forward for the primary time for the reason that opening quarter, and Courtney Williams added a clutch jumper within the closing minute.
When Cecilia Zandalasini’s try on the buzzer fell brief, the Lynx had accomplished a two-game sweep and their most inconceivable win of the season.
Collier Units the Tone, McBride and Williams Present the End
Collier carried Minnesota by the comeback together with her poise and aggression. She delivered 14 of her 24 factors within the second half, attacking Golden State’s protection when the Lynx wanted it most.
“Simply the desperation that we performed with, figuring out we had been down so much and solely had 10 minutes to get it again. I believe it was 13,” Collier stated. “Coach stated at one level, there’s nothing she will draw for us that’ll get a straightforward bucket. You simply should go on the market and play. Altering that mindset, realizing they’d scouted all our performs—so simply going on the market, taking part in basketball, choose and roll, making reads, we did a extremely good job of being aggressive within the fourth quarter.”
McBride’s scoring punch helped shut the hole, and her scoop shot with 2:48 left gave Minnesota its first lead for the reason that opening interval. Williams added the exclamation level, drilling a pull-up jumper within the closing minute to place the Lynx in management.
“I black out in the course of the sport, so I do not know!” McBride stated with fun when requested in regards to the play that freed Williams. “I believe it was simply swing, swing; Bridget obtained it on one other swing, swung it to Courtney, and she or he had a pull-up. Courtney relishes these moments; we’ve seen her do it numerous instances. It was a damaged play—drive, kick, pump pretend, kick to Courtney, one dribble proper pull-up; that’s her cash shot.”
Reeve admitted she wrestled with whether or not to name a timeout on the possession earlier than Golden State’s final likelihood, which ended with Zandalasini’s missed jumper on the buzzer.
“It was a bizarre possession—we obtained trapped out and obtained a shot clock violation,” Reeve stated. “I ought to’ve taken a timeout to debate choices, however I assumed we had been good to run it down. You don’t know for positive who would take the final shot, however we had been lucky ultimately.”
🚨 THE MINNESOTA LYNX ARE MOVNG ON! 🚨
Edging out the Golden State Valkyries, the Lynx will advance to the Semifinals!
They are going to play the winner of the Liberty vs Mercury sequence.
Minnesota is the heavy favourite to win the WNBA Championship at -155 odds.#WNBA #Acknowledge pic.twitter.com/zhlTMi8vHG
— Ballislife Bets (@BallislifeBets) September 18, 2025
Adjusting to Golden State’s Physicality
For a lot of the evening, the Valkyries dictated the phrases with their stress protection and toughness. Reeve stated the Lynx needed to meet that normal to flip the sport within the fourth quarter.
“Within the second half we began to reply higher. Golden State threw all of the punches within the first half; we simply stood there and took them,” Reeve stated. “Within the third quarter, we began to push again, and by the fourth, we understood the physicality and the way onerous you need to play. Golden State was making the most of it, however we started to return the favor. Offensively, we developed—a giant fourth quarter, we understood alternatives, broke performs to make performs. The offense wasn’t going to be fairly, we needed to create.”
The @minnesotalynx ended the sport on a 26-11 run to win Recreation 2 of the primary spherical sequence in opposition to the Valkyries, 75-74 ✔️
The Lynx overcame a 63-49 deficit heading into the 4Q. It marks the fourth largest 4Q comeback in a Playoff win in WNBA historical past.
Napheesa Collier – 24 PTS |… pic.twitter.com/MTXaddyltU
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 18, 2025
McBride credited the Valkyries for making each possession a battle, noting how their defensive stress stored the Lynx out of rhythm for a lot of the evening. Golden State stunted into passing lanes, packed the paint and turned each Minnesota motion right into a grind.
“Physicality—they had been extra within the gaps, stunting extra, making it powerful to get to our spots,” McBride stated. “It’s powerful to play a crew 3 times in a row. They made good changes and hit powerful pictures, particularly the three-ball, which they’re identified for.”
Reeve stated her crew needed to abandon its script to outlive. The Lynx, identified for execution in half-court units, had been compelled to improvise as Golden State closed off their playbook. As a substitute of ready for designed appears to be like, Minnesota needed to belief instincts and lean on particular person reads.
“They actually compelled us to interrupt performs to make performs,” she stated. “They weren’t giving us straightforward appears to be like off our units. We needed to alter by discovering higher reads and matching physicality.”
Valkyries Go away a Lasting Impression
The loss ended Golden State’s season, however not with out leaving its mark. Burton’s all-around effort, Billings’ prompt the bench and the crew’s cohesion earned reward from Minnesota.
“Their dedication to identification—what they do repeatedly, time and again,” Reeve stated. “If you stroll out, you recognize their identification, which is an indication of an important coach and crew. No level did we predict this was going to be a two-game sequence. I’m actually proud we discovered a option to win regardless of the craziness; credit score to our crew and to Golden State for being a sport away from sixth place.”
McBride stated the Valkyries’ tradition resonated all through the matchup, pointing to how their confidence and chemistry carried them deep into video games. At the same time as a first-year crew, Golden State performed with the idea of a contender.
“They play so onerous,” she stated. “You possibly can inform they’re nicely coached and have an identification they persist with. The environment as an enlargement crew is wonderful. It begins with Burton and spreads—it’s contagious. They’ve lots of gamers who imagine in one another.”
Veronica Burton had nothing however love for Valkyries followers following the loss to the Lynx final evening
“They journey for us, it doesn’t matter what the result is from the very 1st preseason sport, prefer it has been a dream come true for all of us…you wanna give it your all for them, as a result of… pic.twitter.com/9gK86PiFRn
— WNBA At the moment on CLNS (@WNBAonCLNS) September 18, 2025
Sellout Crowd of 18,543 Alerts WNBA Progress
With Chase Heart occupied by the Laver Cup, the Valkyries performed their first playoff house sport at SAP Heart in San Jose. A sellout crowd of 18,543 crammed the NHL area, and Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski sat courtside alongside proprietor Joe Lacob.
“Unbelievable. So loud, so enjoyable,” McBride stated. “What they’ve constructed is unbelievable; the followers are superior. As an opposing participant, environments like this are actually enjoyable—18,000 individuals screaming. I’m positive it was enjoyable for the house crew too.”
Reeve stated the scene mirrored each Golden State’s momentum and the WNBA’s development. The 18,543 in attendance gave the Valkyries a real playoff environment, even in a brief house area. The gang’s power confirmed how rapidly the Bay Space embraced its new crew.
“Their power, their ardour—they’re in it the entire method, no lulls,” Reeve stated. “The followers willed the crew at instances. Even with distinctive venue challenges, the surroundings was electrical. Sounded totally different, a bit colder within the hockey area, nevertheless it’s good for the league. Hope the WNBA strikes ahead from these venue points—it’s good enterprise now.”
I’ve by no means seen something like this. The Valkyries misplaced however the crowd stayed on their toes. GSV chants all through. They’ve set the gold normal for a WNBA fanbase. pic.twitter.com/KHFVPW2AvV
— Matt Energetic (@mattblively) September 18, 2025
Closing With Confidence
The Lynx not solely superior however earned additional relaxation earlier than the semifinals. Reeve stated Williams’ late shot summed up her reliability within the clutch.
“She simply is aware of that—I used to be on her all sport, wanted my massive three,” Reeve stated. “Towards Golden State over 4 video games, she hadn’t performed her finest, however tonight she obtained to the best place. We depend on her power, perception, hype for teammates. She’s the sort who desires that shot, doesn’t care what occurred earlier than—why we name her Dory, she forgets all the things and steps up. She was powerful and made the shot.”
Collier stated successful the sequence in two video games underscored the crew’s identification. For a roster that has emphasised toughness and resiliency all season, discovering a method again from 17 down on the street confirmed the character they imagine separates them.
“Any relaxation you get is big right now of yr,” she stated. “Video games are very bodily, so getting these days off, recovering, taking good care of our bodies—that’s a giant benefit. It additionally units the tone for the way we wish to play, successful with grit and resilience, which we’ve been speaking about for 2 years. We had been down 17 on the street, powerful place, however made performs and obtained stops. I’m pleased with us.”
Reeve emphasised that ending early may very well be the distinction later within the postseason. With a veteran crew, maximizing restoration and avoiding the grind of a 3rd sport in opposition to a bodily opponent may repay within the semifinals.
“If in case you have a win, don’t get complacent—playoffs are lengthy,” she stated. “Caring for enterprise in two is big. Now we get relaxation, which is crucial right now of yr.”
The Lynx will now flip their focus to the semifinals. They are going to face the winner of Friday’s decisive Recreation 3 between the New York Liberty and Phoenix Mercury.
