The energy at the Target Center was different. You could feel it in the concourse before tip-off, that weird mix of desperate hope and "oh no, not again" dread. Everyone was checking their phones, refreshing for the latest score of minnesota lynx game, but the real story wasn't on a scoreboard. It was in the way Napheesa Collier looked during warmups—focused, sure, but carrying the weight of a franchise that had fought its way to the top of the Western Conference only to hit a massive wall in the semifinals.
Honestly, the final score of 86-81 against the Phoenix Mercury doesn't even begin to cover how close the Lynx were to forcing a Game 5. They trailed by double digits, clawed back, and then watched it slip away in the final two minutes. It was a heartbreaker. Basically, the 2025 season ended not with a bang, but with a series of "what ifs" that are going to haunt Minneapolis until May rolls around again.
The Final Score of Minnesota Lynx Game and Why It Stung
The scoreboard read 86-81 in favor of Phoenix when the buzzer finally sounded on September 28, 2025. It marked the end of a 1-3 series loss for a Minnesota team that many experts—and certainly most of the fans in the Twin Cities—thought was destined for a deep Finals run. After all, they finished the regular season with a stellar 34-10 record. They were the number one seed. They were supposed to be the ones moving on.
But Phoenix, led by a resurgent Satou Sabally and the ever-reliable Alyssa Thomas, figured something out. They turned the semifinals into a defensive grind. In that final game, Kayla McBride was absolutely heroic, pouring in 31 points and hitting shots that felt like they were keeping the arena's roof from collapsing. But individual brilliance usually loses to collective execution in the WNBA playoffs. While McBride was scorching, the rest of the team struggled to find a secondary rhythm.
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Breaking Down the Box Score
If you look at the box score from that final outing, the shooting percentages tell a grim story. Minnesota shot just under 40% from the field. In a playoff game, that's almost always a death sentence.
- Kayla McBride: 31 points, 6 threes (the only reason it was close).
- Napheesa Collier: 18 points, 9 rebounds (battled through double-teams all night).
- Courtney Williams: 10 points, 5 assists.
- Bench Contribution: Only 12 combined points.
The lack of bench production was kinda the Achilles' heel for Cheryl Reeve's squad in the postseason. During the regular season, the Lynx moved the ball better than anyone in the league, averaging a league-high 23.3 assists per game. In the playoffs, that ball movement stagnated. Phoenix forced them into late-clock hero ball, and when McBride wasn't the one taking the shot, the rim felt about three inches too small.
What Went Wrong Against the Mercury?
It’s easy to blame a single play or a missed whistle, but the score of minnesota lynx game was a reflection of a four-game trend. Phoenix realized that if they could limit Napheesa Collier's touches in the high post, the Lynx offense lost its gravity. Collier is the engine; she averaged 22.9 points per game in 2025 for a reason. But the Mercury threw length at her—mainly Sabally—and dared the Lynx guards to beat them from the perimeter.
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It worked. Outside of McBride's flamethrower performance in the finale, the consistency just wasn't there. You've got to give credit to the Mercury's defensive scheme, which was basically a masterclass in rotation. They gambled on the shooters and won.
The Stats Nobody Talks About
We focus on points, but the rebounding battle was where the Lynx really lost their grip. Throughout the season, Jessica Shepard was a beast on the boards, averaging over 7 rebounds a night. In the clincher, the Lynx were out-rebounded 42 to 31. Those extra possessions for Phoenix translated into second-chance points that effectively killed every Minnesota run.
You can't give a team with veteran playoff experience eleven more chances to score than you have. It just doesn't work.
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Looking Ahead to 2026
So, where does this leave the Lynx? Honestly, the roster is still in a great spot, but changes are coming. We already know the front office is shifting after the departure of Clare Duwelius and Katie Smith earlier in the cycle. The new ownership group, led by Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez, has been vocal about wanting to keep the Lynx at the pinnacle of the WNBA, but they’ve got some tough decisions to make regarding the supporting cast.
The core of Collier, McBride, and Alanna Smith is elite. Smith, in particular, was a defensive revelation this past year, leading the team with 80 blocks. But as the score of minnesota lynx game in the playoffs showed, they need one more consistent creator—someone who can break down a defense when the initial set plays fall apart.
Key Offseason Questions
- Free Agency: Will they look for a veteran point guard to take some of the playmaking pressure off Courtney Williams?
- Draft Strategy: With the 2026 WNBA Draft looming in April, the Lynx need to decide if they want immediate impact or a project player.
- The Sabally Problem: How do they re-tool the defense to handle versatile wings who can score from all three levels?
The 2025 season was a massive success by almost every metric—until the very end. Finishing first in the West and leading the league in field goal percentage (47.2%) and assists (23.3%) proves the system works. It just needs a little more "oomph" in the postseason.
If you’re a Lynx fan, it’s okay to be frustrated. This team was good enough to win a title. They just ran into a hot team at the worst possible moment. But the foundation is solid. Napheesa Collier is in her prime, and as long as she's wearing that jersey, Minnesota is going to be a problem for the rest of the league.
Check the official WNBA standings and the upcoming 2026 schedule to stay on top of when the Lynx return to action. The best way to move past a tough playoff loss is to start looking toward the next opening night at the Target Center. Keep an eye on the free agency wires through February, as that's when the real 2026 roster will start to take shape.