The Minnesota Lynx return to the WNBA Finals with an 88-77 win over the Connecticut Sun in Game 5.

The Lynx will play the Liberty in the 2024 WNBA Finals.

By Dave Campbell | The Associated Press - Published: October 9, 2024 - Updated: October 9, 2024 at 10:31 AM

The Minnesota Lynx beat the Connecticut Sun to move three wins away from their fifth championship and are chasing a championship record with a completely different core than their previous dynasty.

Former UConn women's basketball star Napheesa Collier is in full command of this team.

Collier contributed 27 points and 11 rebounds on 10-for-16 shooting, while Courtney Williams added 24 points and energetic contributions from both ends of the floor to lead the Lynx to a 88-77 win over the Sun and their first appearance in the WNBA Finals in seven years.

Collier, the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, added four blocks and had a great performance overall.

"He gets better every season. It's unbelievable. It's more important than the points she scores, how she helps the team every game," Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. "When she plays like an MVP, it's hard to beat."

As the final buzzer sounded and the arena erupted in cheers, Collier made her way to Lindsay Warren's seat on the court and hugged the former Lynx star, who is a Hall of Famer and played point guard for the league's top four teams.

"I definitely want to make her proud," Collier said.

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Kayla McBride scored 10 of her 19 points in the first quarter to set up Game 1 against the first-place New York Liberty on Thursday. The best-of-five series continues with Game 2 in New York on Sunday afternoon, with Minnesota set for Game 3 on October 16.

The Lynx, who finished the regular season second in the league, two games behind the Liberty, have won three of their four games against New York this year, including the game that clinched the season-long tournament title at the WNBA Commissioner's Cup on June 25.

DiJonai Carrington had 17 points and 12 rebounds and Breonna Jones had 16 points and 10 rebounds.

"They just punched us in the face and shocked us and we couldn't fight back," said DeWanna Bonner, who had 14 points on 4-for-13 shooting.

The sun lost the fourth sem i-finals for the first time in six years. The WNBA Finals lost in the other two seasons in 2019 and 2022, which was a member of the core who had not yet cleared the last hurdle to the first franchise title.

Williams, the first year after transferring to Minnesota, was the mission of entering the final from the beginning. He attacked the basket, pushed up his pace with a break, and tossed the connecticut handler. Williams scored the most scores in the playoffs since 2019, adding 7 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steel.

In the first half, 6 wins and 6 losses.

"When you start such a game, you can see the feel of the rim and have a super green light," said Williams. "I think Sheryl will give us confidence," said Williams.

Links built 21 leads in the second quarter. They were erased by the sun cold shooting until Alanna Smith scored three points and ended the stiffness of 4 minutes 22 seconds.

In addition, Williams took the ball from the bonor driving on the basket, rushed in the opposite direction to make a layup, 58-41. Ciller scored three points and concluded the 12-0 run.

Connecticut rejected Minnesota here in the third round of the first round of the decisive battle last season. Since he won the fourth championship in seven years in the 2017 WNBA Final Round 5, Links had only one win and four losses in the playoffs.

The atmosphere of the target center matches that moment, with two noisy crowds, including Warren, Minnesota Vikings running back, Aaron Jones, State Congress, Congress Angie Craig and Tina Smith. Gathered.

Christ, who scored 29 points and 13 rebounds in the two games in the first round of Phoenix Mercury, 29 points and 13 rebounds in the fourth round of the Connecticut in the fourth round, was confident and determined by the star player aiming for the first championship. , It was the usual cool figure.

"But I think it's not a rush to make her a special one other than a clear skill set.

Alissa Thomas scored a quiet seven goals and six assists. Marina Maburi, who had been on the bench for two consecutive games, hurt his ankle in the first half of the photographer on the base line, and left for 14 minutes.

"She is one of the toughest children I've been around," said White. "He tried to give it, but he didn't.