The Phoenix Mercury are headed to the WNBA Finals. The Indiana Fever and Las Vegas Aces will play one more game to determine which team will face the Mercury.
No. 4 seed Phoenix overcame a 14-point deficit to eliminate the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx with an 86-81 victory Sunday and advance to the finals for the first time since 2021.
The Lynx were dominant in the regular season but lost back-to-back playoff games in Phoenix, including a controversial ending to Game 3 on Friday, when star Napheesa Collier was injured. Collier missed Sunday's deciding game, as did Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, who was suspended after getting ejected Friday and blasting officials in her postgame news conference.
On the other side of the bracket, the Fever beat the Aces 85-77 to force their semifinal series to Game 5 on Tuesday (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2).
Here's how Phoenix won, and what to expect in the decisive Indiana-Las Vegas game.
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(1) Minnesota Lynx vs.
(4) Phoenix Mercury
Final: Phoenix 86, Minnesota 81
What the win means for Phoenix
The jubilation of winning the series and advancing to the franchise's first WNBA Finals in four years also comes with a sigh of relief. The Mercury got off to a slow start, missing their first six field goal attempts, giving the injury-laden Lynx a sign of life it didn't appear to have after Friday's game. But another fourth-quarter comeback saved Phoenix from a return trip to Minnesota and a deciding Game 5.
Down by 14 points in the first half and 13 points entering the fourth, Phoenix dominated the final quarter for a third consecutive game. Behind five 3-pointers, including two crucial deep shots from DeWanna Bonner, the Mercury outscored Minnesota 31-13 in the final 10 minutes.
It was the Mercury's second 14-point comeback in the series. Alyssa Thomas was big in the fourth, scoring 10 of her 23 points. She also assisted on Sami Whitcomb's 3-pointer that brought Phoenix within 70-69 with 4:47 to play, and Bonner's second 3 that pushed the lead to 77-73 with 2:02 remaining.
Reaching the finals is a testament to general manager Nick U'Ren's offseason efforts. He revamped the roster, keeping only Kahleah Copper and Natasha Mack, while bringing in Thomas and Satou Sabally. The chemistry came together in the biggest moments of the biggest games of the season.
What the loss means for Minnesota
A season with only one mission -- to win a championship -- ends early. To not only fall short of that goal but see the season end one round earlier than last year will be difficult for the Lynx all offseason. Minnesota played so well for 30 minutes without its star player or coach, but that will be little consolation. The Lynx had complete control of this series until the fourth quarter of Game 2 on Tuesday; five days later, their season is over.
All the disappointment will overshadow a brilliant performance by Kayla McBride, who scored a playoff-career-high 31 points and tied a WNBA postseason record with six 3-pointers in the second half. Jessica Shepard, who played just eight minutes in Game 3, had 14 points and seven rebounds in 36 minutes in place of Collier, helping the Lynx combat what had been a Mercury advantage on the inside for most of the series.
How do the Mercury prepare for the finals?
Phoenix has five days off before the start of the best-of-seven championship round and still won't know its opponent until the Fever and Aces play their Game 5 on Tuesday. This week, the Mercury will take a look at how they're starting games. Phoenix didn't make a field goal for the first 4:47 on Sunday and scored just 14 first-quarter points. The Mercury trailed after the first quarter in three of the four games in the series. It's nice to be the comeback kids and to have confidence late in games, but putting themselves in those situations is precarious. -- Charlie Creme
(2) Las Vegas Aces vs.
(6) Indiana Fever
Final: Indiana 90, Las Vegas 83
What the win means for Indiana
A winner-take-all Game 5 on Tuesday in Las Vegas. Given all the injuries the Fever have dealt with this season, they'll undoubtedly take it. And there's no reason for Indiana not to believe in a possible win. The Fever already won at Michelob Ultra Arena in Game 1 and knocked off the Atlanta Dream in an identical situation in the first round.
Beyond those general factors, Indiana found something by playing through Aliyah Boston in Game 4. Having made just two free throws in the first three games of the series while scoring 28 total points, Boston smashed that total by going 10-for-13 from the line Sunday en route to 24 points -- not to mention 15 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. At age 23, Boston is the youngest player in WNBA history with at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in a playoff game according to ESPN Research.
What the loss means for Las Vegas
The Aces are also headed to their second deciding game in as many series, having survived an upset bid when the Seattle Storm missed at the buzzer in Game 3 of the opening round.
Although Vegas is a win away from hosting the WNBA Finals, this hasn't been the kind of dominant playoff run we expected based on the Aces' 16-game winning streak to end the regular season, which they stretched to 17 by winning their opening game against Seattle. Since then, Las Vegas has gone 3-3. If the Aces want to be favored against Phoenix in the Finals, they'll need to show us something in Game 3.
Where else can the Aces find offense?
After A'ja Wilson struggled from the field in Las Vegas' Game 3 win, she had no such trouble in scoring 31 points on 14-of-24 shooting on Sunday. The Aces' backcourt of Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young also excelled with a combined 30 points and 18 assists, making five 3-pointers. But the three leading scorers combined for nearly three-quarters of Las Vegas' 83 points.
The Aces' bench totaled 11 points on 4-of-14 shooting, a problem given starter Kierstan Bell logged just six minutes. They've only had fewer points in one game so far this postseason -- Game 3 against Seattle. -- Kevin Pelton