Minnesota Lynx’s Championship Hopes Dashed with Game 4 Loss in Phoenix
Their backs against the wall, the Minnesota Lynx showed the heart of a team wanting a championship. Despite their valiant effort, a team that led the WNBA standings from the outset and finished with a league-record 34 regular-season wins will not get a chance to compete for the ultimate prize.
From left to right, Minnesota Lynx forward Jessica Shepard, Phoenix Mercury forward Natasha Mack and Lynx forward Alanna Smith battle for the ball during the first half of Game 4 of a WNBA basketball playoff semifinals series, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Samantha Chow)
Shorthanded Lynx Fall to Phoenix Mercury
The shorthanded Lynx were again dominated in the fourth quarter Sunday night and fell 86-81 to Phoenix in Game 4 of a best-of-five semifinal series. The host Mercury won the final three games, the only time all season Minnesota lost three in a row.
“In pro sports, it doesn’t get any better than what we have in our locker room, and that’s why I’m emotional because we lay it out for each other. … For the people that you love, your sisters, your family this (bleep) hurts,” said Kayla McBride, who had a postseason career-high 31 points, including six 3-pointers. “I wouldn’t trade that locker room for anything. I would feel like this 100 times over to be with the people I’ve been with. That’s why it’s painful, because you want it to keep going.”
Courtney Williams added 17 points and six assists, and Jessica Shepard was thrust into the starting lineup and finished with 14 points and seven rebounds. Minnesota played without Napheesa Collier, who was on the bench in a walking boot after injuring her ankle in Game 3 in a late collision with Alyssa Thomas.
DiJonai Carrington #3 and Napheesa Collier #24 of the Minnesota Lynx watch warmups before Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs semifinals against the Phoenix Mercury at PHX Arena on Sept. 28, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Coach Cheryl Reeve Suspended for Game 4
It ultimately led to coach Cheryl Reeve being suspended by the league for Game 4 for “conduct and comments included aggressively pursuing and verbally abusing a game official on the court, failure to leave the court in a timely manner upon her ejection with 21.8 seconds to play in the fourth quarter, inappropriate comments made to fans when exiting the court, and remarks made in a postgame press conference.”
Associate head coach Eric Thibault was not surprised by the Lynx resiliency. “I think everybody already knew it about this team, I don’t think they had to prove it tonight, but it’s another example of it. The way we came out to start the game,” he said, referencing early 12-1 and 14-3 leads.
Minnesota led by 13 going into the final 10 minutes but was outscored 31-13 in the fateful fourth quarter. In the last three games, Phoenix outscored Minnesota 87-43 in the final frame and overtime. “They switched and they made it hard for us, and we just didn’t get enough quality shots down the stretch,” Thibault said.
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