Mercury fall to Lynx in Game 1 of WNBA semifinals

Both teams traded leads and shots throughout the game, but it was the second half that unraveled for Phoenix. The Mercury were kept to 22 points in the second half, with 3-point shooting troubles. The team shot 13.0% from beyond the arc.

“[Minnesota] really did a good job defensively in the second half,” Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said post-game. “… They turned it up at that end. Obviously, we didn’t shoot it very well from three. I think that was another factor. They did what they were supposed to do: win Game 1.”

Alyssa Thomas had 18 points with eight rebounds and seven assists, while Kahleah Copper led the scoring with 22 points.

The Phoenix Mercury and the Minnesota Lynx play Game 2 on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 4:30 p.m.