MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The Phoenix Mercury nearly pulled off a miraculous comeback. After trailing by as many as 23 points in the second quarter, they stormed back and briefly took the lead with 2:06 left in the game. However, the Minnesota Lynx proved their dominance in the final moments, closing out with a 12-3 run to secure a 102-95 victory on Sunday in Game 1 of the WNBA playoffs.

The game’s pivotal moment came with 1:18 remaining, and the Lynx clinging to a 93-92 lead. Minnesota forward Myisha Hines-Allen barreled into Diana Taurasi, but instead of a foul on Hines-Allen, the officials controversially called it on Kahleah Copper.

“There were some very questionable calls down the stretch,” said Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts. “I haven’t had a chance to look at them … but the (Copper) one to me was terrible. That’s a huge play in the game, and I think they completely missed that.”

Phoenix’s frustration extended to the overall lack of calls in their favor. The Mercury only attempted 11 free throws, while Minnesota went to the line 25 times, with Napheesa Collier converting 13 of her 14 attempts. Collier’s unstoppable performance included a playoff career-high 38 points.

“This is a team that puts you in tough positions with their ball movement and shooting,” Tibbetts explained. “You either double her (Collier) or stay home. She got what she wanted at times, and was rewarded with free throws. I thought we defended well with hands up, but they got to the line, and we didn’t.”

Fast Start for Minnesota

Early on, the Mercury kept pace with the Lynx, but Minnesota’s offensive depth began to shine. Phoenix used their size advantage with 6-foot-9 Brittney Griner, attacking the basket aggressively, and racked up 32 points in the paint. Natasha Cloud set the tone with two quick layups, scoring eight points in the first quarter, and ultimately finishing with a playoff career-high of 33 points.

“I mean she’s a competitive spirit,” Tibbetts said of Cloud. “She’s a fighter. She’s not afraid of any situation, and the bigger the stage, the bigger she steps up. We’re going to need that in Game 2 and 3.”

Despite Phoenix’s strong start, Minnesota took control with a blistering 14-0 run late in the first quarter. Collier dominated, scoring 13 points in the opening period as the Lynx surged ahead 32-19. Collier’s all-around performance, including six rebounds and four assists, had the Mercury on their heels.

“She’s a box score stuffer,” said Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve. “That’s why she’s first in league history in so many things. It’s well beyond scoring.”

Phoenix Struggles to Find Rhythm

While Collier kept piling on points, the Mercury struggled offensively. Copper and Griner both had off nights, with Copper shooting just 3-of-9 in the first half, and Griner going 1-of-7. Griner, who led the league in field goal percentage during the regular season, finished with only 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting.

Cloud, however, refused to let her team fade. She went into halftime with 18 points on an impressive 72% shooting, helping the Mercury trim Minnesota’s lead to 56-42.

“For us, it was about throwing the first punch,” Cloud said. “In the first quarter, they hit us pretty hard, and we didn’t respond. But by the second, we started to gain momentum.”

Phoenix Rallies in the Second Half

The Mercury came out of halftime with renewed energy. After a slow start in the third quarter, Sophie Cunningham’s encouragement helped Griner bounce back, and the team quickly found their groove. Taurasi’s 3-pointer cut the deficit to 60-50, and the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer finished with 21 points, shooting 50% from the field and from beyond the arc.

The Mercury continued to chip away at Minnesota’s lead, with a 3-pointer from Celeste Taylor pulling them within 11 points. But a hard hit to Taylor’s head sent her to the locker room, adding to Phoenix’s challenges.

“I’m good,” Taylor reassured after the game. “Things happen in basketball, but credit to my team for fighting and bringing the game close again.”

Cloud knocked down a buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter, silencing the Target Center crowd and pulling the Mercury within eight, 77-69.

Fourth-Quarter Surge Comes Up Short

In the final quarter, Phoenix continued to claw back. Copper came alive, scoring 10 of her 16 points in the last frame. Taurasi and Cloud kept applying pressure, and Griner’s free throws gave Phoenix their first lead since the opening minutes, 92-91, with 4:44 remaining.

Minnesota responded immediately, retaking the lead with a Courtney Williams jumper. Still, Cloud’s relentless play briefly put Phoenix back on top at 92-91 with just over two minutes to go.

“I thought we raised our level of play,” Tibbetts said. “Offensively, we shared the ball well, got up 27 threes, and rebounded effectively. Defensively, we competed, and that’s what it will take to win this series.”

However, the Lynx seized control in the final minutes, aided by questionable officiating. A disputed foul call on Copper and a successful challenge by Reeve after McBride’s errant pass left Phoenix on the back foot. Bridget Carleton’s 3-pointer with 39 seconds left put the Lynx up by six, sealing the game.

“I thought we really battled,” Tibbetts added. “We found our rhythm in the last three quarters, and I’m extremely proud of our group.”

Reeve praised her team’s resilience in the playoff atmosphere. “This game embodied what a series is all about. It’s not won in the first quarter, or even when we had a double-figure lead. It’s 120 minutes of basketball, and you have to stay level-headed through the ups and downs.”

With their season on the line, the Mercury head into Game 2 facing elimination. They’ll take on the Lynx again on the road, Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. MST. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.