Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Lynx blow 20-point lead as Mercury win Game 2 in overtime

Originally posted on Bring Me The News | By Joe Nelson | Last updated Sep 23, 2025 9:55 PM ET

The Minnesota Lynx blew a 20-point second-half lead and fell to the Phoenix Mercury 89-83 in overtime Tuesday night.

The collapse prevented the Lynx from putting Phoenix in a 2-0 hole. No team in WNBA history has won a best-of-five series after losing the first two games. The series is now tied at one apiece with Game 3 in Phoenix Friday night.

Minnesota outscored Phoenix 27-13 in the second quarter and led by 16 points at the half. A three-pointer from Napheesa Collier with 5:45 left in the third pushed the lead to a game-high 20 points, but the Mercury then put the pedal to the metal and stormed back.

The Lynx scored just three points in the final 5:45 of the third quarter and the Mercury cut the deficit to eight points at 62-54 entering the fourth quarter.

In the fourth, Minnesota led 67-58 with 7:18 to go before Phoenix ended the quarter on a 21-12 run — highlighted by Sami Whitcomb's 23-foot three-pointer to tie the game with 4.3 seconds left.

Collier's 17-footer jumper as time expired was offline and the game went to overtime.

Phoenix scored the first six points of overtime, keeping Minnesota scoreless for the first 3:59 of the five-minute period. A couple of quick buckets made it an 85-83 game with Phoenix on top with 30 seconds to go, but the Mercury iced the game at the free-throw line to win.

The 20-point comeback is the third-largest come-from-behind win in WNBA playoff history.

Collier led the Lynx with 24 points, while Kayla McBride scored 21 and Courtney Williams finished with 20 points.

Alyssa Thomas, an MVP finalist like Collier, finished with 19 points and 13 assists to lead the Mercury. Satou Sabally contributed 24 points and nine rebounds, while hitting 5 of 11 three-point shots.

Minnesota's bench was outscored by Phoenix's bench 25-3.

Game 3 tips off at 8:30 p.m. CT Friday. The game will be televised on ESPN.

This article first appeared on Bring Me The News and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: