In a high-stakes showdown at Target Center, the Minnesota Lynx secured a spot in back-to-back Commissioner’s Cup Finals with a 76–62 comeback win over the Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday night—despite losing star forward Napheesa Collier early to a back injury.
Trailing 39–30 at halftime, Minnesota rallied behind Courtney Williams, who poured in 18 of her game-high 20 points in the second half, lifting the Lynx to victory even as Collier exited with a concerning injury.
🩺 Collier’s Injury Sends Shockwaves
Minnesota’s leader and early MVP favorite exited after aggravating a back issue just seven minutes into the third quarter . Collier, who was averaging a dominant 26.1 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 1.6 BPG, didn’t return—raising red flags about her availability for the Cup Final.
Yet head coach Cheryl Reeve remained cautiously optimistic, noting the team will closely monitor Collier’s recovery before the championship game on July 1.
🛡️ Lynx Strengthen with Team Effort
Even without their star, the Lynx leaned on collective grit:
- Courtney Williams delivered a 20-point masterpiece, sparking the turnaround.
- Bench scoring from Natisha Hiedeman and Diamond Miller, each added 12 crucial points.
- Alanna Smith contributed a 10-point, 13-rebound performance, stabilizing the paint.
Their defense also tightened up late: converting 21 Aces turnovers into 27 points, holding Las Vegas to just 10 fourth-quarter points.
🏆 Cup Final Terroir & Scheduling
The Lynx will now host the July 1 Commissioner’s Cup Final against the Indiana Fever, winner of the Eastern side. As defending champions, their home-court edge and depth make them favorites—if Collier can recover.
Minnesota finished 5–1 in Cup play, powered by early dominance including a 101–78 win over the Sparks.
🔭 What to Watch in the Final
- Collier’s Status: Her health is crucial. A missed Cup would shift the burden onto Williams, Hiedeman, Miller, and Smith.
- Williams’ Role: If she replicates her late-game explosion, Minnesota stays formidable.
- Minnesota’s Bench: Their bench performance—29 points vs. the Aces—could be the deciding factor .