Napheesa Collier scored 27 points and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds to lead the Minnesota Lynx over the Las Vegas Aces 87-74 in Friday night’s WNBA action. Minnesota nabbed its fifth consecutive victory and sits atop the Western Conference standings.
For Minnesota (21-8), that was their third straight victory against the WNBA defending champions. Collier finished 11 of 15 shooting, including 2 of 4 from 3-point range, with five assists and two steals. Alanna Smith made 6 of 9 from the field and scored 15 for the Lynx, while Courtney Williams added 13.
Brittney Griner scored 22 points along with six rebounds, six assists, and four blocks. Diana Taurasi added 18 points, and the Phoenix Mercury prevailed over the Atlanta Dream 82-80. Kahleah Copper scored 16 for Phoenix (16-14).
It was another close game in the WNBA’s Friday night action, despite the fact that Mercucy got a 24-17 lead after the first quarter. Phoenix kept the lead until the end, but the Dream cut Mercury’s advantage to 80-77 late in the fourth.
Rhyne Howard hit two free throws to make it a one-point game with 13.1 seconds left, but Cahleah Copper put Atlanta away in a layup after an inbounds pass from Natasha Cloud. In the next possession, Howard missed a potential tying three.
Gray finished with 22 points, Howard scored 16 and Charles added 14 and 13 rebounds for Atlanta (10-18).
Angel Reese posts WNBA milestone in defeat; Sykes scores season-high in the Mystics’ victory.
Marina Mabrey had 24 points with five made threes, Alyssa Thomas made two free throws late in the clock during the end of the regulation, and the Connecticut Sun survived a back-and-forth battle to beat the Chicago Sky 82-80.
Thomas, who finished with 12 points, 11 assists, nine rebounds, and four steals, was fouled with the game tied 80-80 and sank both free throws with 4.1 seconds remaining. Connecticut (21-7) had a 45-35 halftime lead, but the Sky outscored the home team 29-18 in the third to take a one-point lead entering the final period.
For the Chicago Sky, Angel Reese finished with 13 points and 20 rebounds and became the only rookie in WNBA history with 20-plus rebounds in back-to-back games.
Brittney Sykes scored a season-high 28 points, and Shakira Austin added 14 points and 11 rebounds to push the Washington Mystics to an 80-74 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks. Ariel Atkins scored 15 points, and Stefanie Dolson finished with a season-high eight assists for Washington (7-22). Rickea Jackson led Los Angeles (6-23) with 17 points.
WNBA results from Friday night
Minnesota Lynx (21-8) vs Las Vegas Aces 87-74
Los Angeles Sparks (6-23) vs Washington Mystics (7-22) 74-80
Chicago Sky (11-17) vs Connecticut Sun (21-7) 80-82
Phoenix Mercury (16-14) vs Atlanta Dream (10-18) 82-80
