Minnesota Lynx Need to Do Some Work After Suffering Third Loss

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Joe Rutland | Last updated Jul 10, 2025 3:00 PM ET

While the Minnesota Lynx have stormed to the top of the WNBA world this season, they've been able to put together solid outings throughout their first 20 games. On Wednesday, July 9, though, Minnesota ran into a late buzzsaw from the Phoenix Mercury.

A 19-4 run in the fourth quarter, paced by leading scorer Alyssa Thomas' 12 points, proved to be too much for the Lynx. The Mercury ended up getting a 79-71 win in Phoenix.

"Our offense let us down," Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said after the game. "We were fighting through it, and then with a little more than five minutes to go, we were up five.

Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve points toward lack of physicality against Phoenix

"Shot clock violation, would have been a second one but Courtney (Williams) had to throw one in, needed to make a three," Reeve said. "Offensively, we just didn't rise up to the physicality that Phoenix played with or loading in the paint and we just didn't have enough help."

Now 17-3 on the season, the Lynx were led in scoring by Williams with 21 points. All-world Minnesota star Napheesa Collier scored 18 points and Bridget Carleton added 10.

Thomas finished with 29 points, eight rebounds, and five assists for the Mercury. "It was a heck of a performance by her, she's had back-to-back big time games," Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said after the game, according to AZCentral.com.

"She did it attacking downhill, she found it on her rolls. This is a team where we're still figuring out who we are and how teams are going to play us."

Phoenix, now 14-6 this season, played without Satou Sabally (right ankle) and Kahleah Copper (right hamstring) for a second straight game, The Associated Press reported.

Reeve and the Lynx will have to go back to the drawing board and figure out what happened late in this defeat. But Reeve has a knack for uncovering those little details that can make a difference. Look for Minnesota to rebound strong in its next game.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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