If you were looking for the latest minnesota lynx basketball score, you probably saw a number that stung a bit. 86-81. That was the final tally in their last outing against the Phoenix Mercury, a game that effectively slammed the door on what had been a historically dominant season. It’s the kind of loss that lingers in the humid Minneapolis air because, honestly, the Lynx were supposed to be the ones hoisting the trophy this time around.
They finished the 2025 regular season with a 34-10 record. Think about that for a second. That is a winning percentage of .773, good enough to lock down the top seed in the Western Conference and keep the Target Center rocking all summer. But as any WNBA fan knows, the regular season is just a long, sweaty dress rehearsal for the chaos of the playoffs.
Why the Recent Scoreboard Doesn't Tell the Whole Story
The playoffs are a different beast. The Lynx entered as the number one seed, fueled by an MVP-caliber season from Napheesa Collier. In their semifinal series against Phoenix, the scores fluctuated wildly, reflecting a matchup that was much closer than the standings suggested.
Minnesota took Game 1 with an 82-69 win, a game where the defense looked suffocating. Then, things got weird.
💡 You might also like: Por qué los partidos de Primera B de Chile son más entretenidos que la división de honor
They dropped Game 2 in an 89-83 overtime heartbreaker. Then came Game 3, a 84-76 loss on the road. By the time the final whistle blew in Game 4—that 86-81 result—the Lynx found themselves on the wrong side of a 3-1 series upset. It’s a bitter pill. You spend months dominating the league only to have your season ended by a hot-shooting Mercury squad in late September.
- Napheesa Collier's Workload: She averaged 22.9 points and 7.3 rebounds over the season. In the final game, she put up 17, but the efficiency just wasn't there.
- The Bench Factor: While the starters carried the load, the depth that seemed so solid in June felt a little thin under the bright lights of the semifinals.
- The Mercury's Surge: Sometimes you just run into a buzzsaw. Phoenix found a rhythm at exactly the right time, and the Lynx couldn't find the defensive stops they relied on all year.
Breaking Down the Minnesota Lynx Basketball Score Trends
When you look back at the scoring patterns from this past year, the Lynx were a statistical anomaly in the best way. They led the league in field goal percentage (47.2%) and assists per game (23.3). Basically, they were the most unselfish team in professional basketball.
Coach Cheryl Reeve has always preached a "move the ball" philosophy, and for 44 games, it worked like a charm. They weren't just winning; they were dismantling teams. On August 2, they absolutely embarrassed the Las Vegas Aces with a 111-58 win. A 53-point victory against the defending champs? That doesn't happen by accident.
📖 Related: South Carolina women's basketball schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
But basketball is a game of adjustments. By the time the postseason rolled around, opponents started daring the Lynx shooters—other than Kayla McBride and Bridget Carleton—to beat them from deep. In that final 86-81 loss, the Lynx shot well, but they couldn't contain the Mercury’s perimeter attack. It's a reminder that a high-functioning offense can still be derailed by a few defensive lapses in the fourth quarter.
Key Performance Metrics from the 2025 Season
- Points Per Game: 86.1 (1st in the WNBA)
- Assists Per Game: 23.3 (1st in the WNBA)
- Home Record: 20-2 (The Target Center was a fortress)
- Defensive Rating: 96.4 (Among the elite for most of the year)
The Collier Effect and the Supporting Cast
Napheesa Collier is the engine. There is no other way to put it. She played over 32 minutes a game and was often tasked with guarding the opponent's best player while leading the break on the other end. But she had help. Courtney Williams stepped up as a legitimate floor general, averaging 6.2 assists and providing that veteran "grit" that every championship contender needs.
Then you have the emergence of Alanna Smith. Her shot-blocking (80 total blocks on the season) changed the way teams attacked the paint. Yet, in those final playoff games, the minnesota lynx basketball score often reflected a team that was just a half-step slow on rotations. Maybe it was fatigue. Maybe it was the pressure of the top seed. Whatever it was, the synergy that defined their 34-win season flickered out at the worst possible moment.
👉 See also: Scores of the NBA games tonight: Why the London Game changed everything
What’s Next for the Lynx?
The front office isn't sitting still. They’ve already made moves, including a trade that sent Karlie Samuelson to the Mystics for a 2026 first-round pick. They are clearly eyeing a window that stays open as long as Collier is in her prime.
There's also the lingering question of the roster's youth. Players like Alissa Pili and Diamond Miller (who was traded to Dallas mid-season for DiJonai Carrington) showed flashes, but the team is still searching for that consistent third scoring option who can take the pressure off "Phee" when the double-teams arrive.
If you’re a fan, you’re looking at a team that is arguably one piece away. They don't need a rebuild; they need a refinement. The 2025 season showed the ceiling is a championship. The playoff exit showed how far the floor can drop when the shots stop falling.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
- Watch the 2026 Draft: With the acquisition of extra draft capital, the Lynx are in a prime position to add a high-impact guard or a versatile wing to support the existing core.
- Monitor Free Agency: Keep an eye on the post-player market. While Alanna Smith was great, adding another physical presence inside could help Minnesota handle teams like the Aces or the Liberty in a long series.
- Ticket Trends: After a season where they went 20-2 at home, expect Target Center tickets to be a hot commodity in 2026. The fan base is re-energized.
- Collier’s Evolution: Watch if Napheesa expands her three-point volume even further. She hit roughly 38% this year, and if that goes up, she becomes virtually unguardable.
The story of the Minnesota Lynx isn't over—it just hit a very frustrating "to be continued" at the end of 2025. While the final minnesota lynx basketball score of the year wasn't what anyone in the Twin Cities wanted, the foundation for a 2026 title run is undeniably there. They have the coach, they have the superstar, and now they have the motivation of a playoff exit that felt way too early.