WNBA Playoffs: Mercury advances to the finals after eliminating Lynx

The Phoenix Mercury traced a 13 -point disadvantage and defeated the Minnesota Lynx to advance to the WNBA finals.

Phoenix–Alyssa Thomas scored 23 points, Dewanna Bonner conducted two key triples in the last quarter and the Phoenix Mercury traced a disadvantage of 13 points in the last period to beat the Minnesota Lynx, which were in numerical inferiority, by 86-81 in the fourth game this Sunday night and advance to the end of the WNBA for the first time since 2021.

Phoenix will face the winners of the Indiana Fever and Las Vegas Aces match in the series for the championship. Indiana forced a fifth game this Sunday with a house victory for 90-83.

The Mercury won the last three matches of the semifinal series to the best of five. The Lynx, standard heads, played without Cheryl Reve, who was suspended for the fourth game due to their behavior and comments towards the referees in the third game. Minnesota also played without the All-Star Napheesa Collier base, who suffered an ankle injury near the end of the defeat of the third game.

The Mercury lost 68-55 at the beginning of the last quarter, but they approached 70-69 with a triple by Sami Whitcomomb at 4:46 from the end. Triple by Bonner were advanced 72-70 and scored another triple to 2:03 in the end for an advantage of 77-73.

Kayla McBride, from Minnesota, scored a triple-his sixth of the second half-to reduce the advantage to 77-76 to 1:04 from the end. Bonner, 38, scored a couple of free throws to put Mercury ahead 79-76.

Bonner scored 11 points in the last quarter. Satou Sabally scored 21 points.

Phoenix will play the finals for the first time in four years and try to win their first championship since 2014.

McBride led Minnesota with 31 points, with 6 of 11 in three shots. Courtney Williams added 20 points.

Kahleah Copper, from Phoenix, scored a triple at the beginning of the third quarter to give Mercury its first advantage of the game (41-38). But the LYNX responded with a 23-9 partial, highlighted by three triples of McBride.

The Lynx quickly advanced (12-1), but the Mercury were cutting distances little by little. Thomas connected with Bonner for a tray just before the horn halftime to tie the game at 38.