The decisive moment
Minnesota's ability to close in the final minutes proved the difference, as the Lynx turned a tight contest into an 88-84 road victory over the Mercury. With both teams trading runs throughout, Minnesota's late-game execution kept Phoenix from completing a comeback bid on its home floor.
By the numbers
- Final score: Minnesota Lynx 88, Phoenix Mercury 84
- Margin of victory: 4 points
- Location: Phoenix (road win for Minnesota)
- Game type: 2026 season WNBA Regular Season
- Lynx missing: Napheesa Collier (left ankle surgery, expected back in early June), Dorka Juhasz (foot), Liatu King
- Mercury missing: Sami Whitcomb (left knee arthroscopy, 4-6 week re-evaluation), Monique Akoa Makani (overseas), Shay Ciezki (coach's decision)
The four-point margin reflected a competitive night in which neither side pulled away, and both clubs leaned on depth to absorb significant absences.
What it means
For Minnesota, stealing a road win without Collier is a meaningful early-season marker, signaling that the Lynx can grind out results even with their All-Star forward still rehabbing. Phoenix, meanwhile, drops a winnable home game and will need to tighten its late-game execution as it works through its own injury list. With the WNBA regular season still in its opening stretch, both teams will treat this result as an early gauge of identity rather than a defining outcome.
What to watch next
Phoenix will look to bounce back at home and steady its rotations while Whitcomb recovers, while Minnesota's focus turns to maintaining momentum as it counts down toward Collier's projected June return to on-court activities. The next meeting between these clubs will offer a clearer read on how each roster evolves once reinforcements arrive.