No. 1 Lynx mount 17-point rally to oust Valkyries

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Napheesa Collier made a go-ahead 18-footer with 1:24 near connected the mode to 24 points, and the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx rallied from a 17-point third-quarter shortage to bushed the Golden State Valkyries 75-74 connected Wednesday nighttime and determination connected successful the WNBA playoffs.

Collier changeable 10-for-16 and followed up her 20-point show successful Game 1 with a 14-point 2nd fractional to bring her squad backmost -- and springiness the Lynx different accidental to support chasing that title they conscionable missed past year.

The Valkyries had 1 last accidental with 4 seconds remaining pursuing a shot-clock violation, and Cecilia Zandalasini couldn't person a jumper.

Kayla McBride made a go-ahead scoop changeable for Minnesota with 2:48 to spell aft DiJonai Carrington connected connected a 3-pointer from the near country with 3:18 remaining to propulsion Minnesota wrong 70-69. McBride coiled up with 18 points

Veronica Burton had 13 points, 9 assists, six rebounds and 4 steals arsenic the enlargement Valkyries astir extended their peculiar season. Monique Billings scored 15 points disconnected the bench.

Carrington banked successful a 3-pointer with 8:30 near that got the Lynx wrong 63-56 and McBride's jumper made it a five-point crippled astatine the 7:19 people earlier Golden State called timeout. The Valkyries instantly committed a shot-clock usurpation and McBride scored again.

The Valkyries, cheered by their raucous sellout assemblage of 18,543, were successful power for overmuch of the crippled -- dissimilar their 101-72 Game 1 decision Sunday.

Billings rebounded her ain miss conscionable earlier the third-quarter buzzer, scored and converted a three-point play to enactment Golden State up 63-49 going into the last 10 minutes. But Minnesota kept creeping back.

After the last buzzer, fans chanted "GSV!" to observe a play successful which Golden State made WNBA past by becoming the archetypal enlargement franchise to scope the playoffs successful its inaugural season.

And the Valkyries were unfazed playing successful an unfamiliar venue for their archetypal postseason location game. That "Balhalla" home-court vantage had to relocate astir 50 miles southbound to the NHL San Jose Sharks' SAP Center due to the fact that the Laver Cup tennis showcase had booked Chase Center earlier Golden State had adjacent been granted an enlargement team.

Warriors defender Brandin Podziemski was 1 of the biggest supporters, sitting courtside with proprietor Joe Lacob and Warriors President Brandon Schneider.

Golden State mislaid each 4 regular-season meetings, 3 by treble figures, truthful this 1 volition some sting and amusement these women however adjacent they are. Starting halfway Temi Fagbenle was a precocious scratch Wednesday due to the fact that of close genu pain.

Valkyries manager Natalie Nakase was recognized earlier the crippled arsenic WNBA Coach of the Year and Burton the league's astir improved player.