In a thrilling matchup, the Minnesota Lynx secured a 102-95 victory over the Phoenix Mercury in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series. The Lynx’s Napheesa Collier stole the show with a career-high 38 points, leading her team to a hard-fought win.
As the Mercury struggles to stay alive, the looming possibility of Diana Taurasi’s retirement hangs in the balance. If this is indeed the end of the road for the legendary player, Collier and the Lynx are determined to make it a memorable one. “It seems like it’s her retirement tour,” Collier said. “I don’t know. She’s been pretty quiet about it. She’s, obviously, a UConn great, a league GOAT, so I feel lucky to have been able to play with her on Team USA and against her. Hopefully, we can end her career on Wednesday.”
Collier’s impressive performance earned her recognition as one of the league’s top players, finishing second in the MVP race behind A’ja Wilson. Her all-around skills were on full display, with pump fakes, smooth layups, clutch 3-pointers, and key defensive stops. According to the Lynx, she became the first player in WNBA history to achieve 38 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and a block in a playoff game.
Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve praised Collier’s versatility, saying, “The great thing about [Collier] is that it’s just so much more than scoring… That’s why she’s the first in league history to do so many things because she’s a box-score stuffer.”
Despite a valiant effort from Taurasi and Natasha Cloud, the Mercury came up short. As the series shifts to Game 2, the Mercury faces an uphill battle to stay alive. Coach Nate Tibbetts acknowledged the possibility of Taurasi’s retirement, saying, “I think everyone wants to go on a run, not only for ourselves, but mostly for her.”
Collier and the Lynx, however, remain focused on their own championship aspirations. “We’re going for the [championship] and that’s what our goals are set on,” Collier said. With her sights set on the top prize, Collier is determined to lead her team to victory, regardless of the opposition.
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