Mercury Drop Fourth Straight as Lynx Rally Behind Career Nights From Kayla McBride and Olivia Miles
The Phoenix Mercury let a fourth-quarter lead slip away Monday night as the Minnesota Lynx rallied for a 104-100 victory behind explosive performances from Kayla McBride and rookie Olivia Miles. The loss marked Phoenix's fourth consecutive defeat despite four starters finishing in double figures.
Minnesota erased a six-point deficit entering the final quarter by outscoring Phoenix 35-25 over the final 10 minutes, improving to 18-6 on the season. The Mercury fell to 8-17.
McBride and Miles Power Minnesota's Comeback
Kayla McBride delivered one of the best games of her season, pouring in a season-high 37 points while knocking down six 3-pointers.
Her sixth triple broke a late tie and gave Minnesota a 101-98 advantage with just 45.1 seconds remaining.
Rookie guard Olivia Miles matched McBride's impact with a career-best 33 points and eight assists, continuing her impressive debut campaign.
Miles also reached another milestone, becoming the fastest player in WNBA history to record 400 points, 100 rebounds, and 100 assists, accomplishing the feat in just 22 games.
Lynx Close Strong in Final Minutes
After Phoenix opened the fourth quarter with a 75-69 lead, Minnesota steadily took control down the stretch.
Miles found Natasha Howard for a go-ahead layup with 21.1 seconds remaining to extend the Lynx's lead to three points.
Courtney Williams then came up with a crucial steal on the ensuing possession before Miles split a pair of free throws to seal the victory.
Minnesota converted 24 of 26 free-throw attempts, a key factor in a tightly contested game.
Mercury Receive Balanced Offensive Production
Phoenix had four of its five starters score at least 17 points but couldn't hold off Minnesota's late surge.
Kahleah Copper led the Mercury with 26 points, while Alyssa Thomas finished with 19 points, eight rebounds, and 12 assists.
Veterans DeWanna Bonner and Monique Akoa Makani each contributed 17 points.
Despite shooting 55% from the field, matching Minnesota's efficiency, Phoenix struggled defensively in the fourth quarter.
Back-and-Forth Battle Ends in Minnesota's Favor
The matchup remained competitive throughout the night.
The teams combined for 23 lead changes and 13 ties, with neither side able to create significant separation until the Lynx's late run.
Minnesota's balanced execution in crunch time ultimately proved decisive as the Lynx maintained one of the WNBA's best records heading into the All-Star break.
What's Next
The Mercury will look to snap their four-game losing streak this weekend when they face the Connecticut Sun in back-to-back games on Friday and Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Lynx continue to build momentum after another statement win fueled by standout performances from McBride and one of the league's brightest young stars in Olivia Miles.
