AP Recap

PHOENIX (AP) — Satou Sabally scored 23 points — including 15 in a stellar fourth quarter — and the Phoenix Mercury beat the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx 84-76 in Game 3 on Friday night to take control of their WNBA playoff semifinals series.
The Mercury have a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series and can reach the Finals on Sunday with a win in Game 4 in Phoenix.
Sabally hit a 3-pointer to give the Mercury a 78-76 lead with 3:05 remaining and added two free throws with 2:01 left to push the advantage to 80-76. Alyssa Thomas had a steal and layup with 21.8 seconds left that sealed the win, capping a 21-9 advantage in the fourth quarter.
Sabally said it was the team’s defense that made the difference in the final minutes.
“We closed them out, we knew what they were running,” Sabally said. “So we were really well prepared and just trusted each other.”
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A furious Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve was ejected following the Mercury’s final layup, getting her second technical foul.
Napheesa Collier also got hurt on the play, rolling her ankle. She had to be helped to the locker room. Reeve blasted the officiating after the game, saying the game became too physical and Collier “probably has a fracture” though she didn’t give any more details.
Thomas and Kahleah Copper both scored 21 points, highlighting a balanced Mercury offense. It was a tight game throughout with 15 lead changes.
“This is a team that believes in each other — been overlooked a little all year,” Mercury coach Nate Tibbets said. “But one thing we are is tough and we fight, we compete and we did that in the fourth. We made it hard on every possession and that’s what good defensive teams do.”
Minnesota was led by Natisha Hiedeman’s 19 points off the bench. Collier added 17 points on 8 of 15 shooting while Courtney Williams added 14.
Minnesota trailed by four at halftime but rallied for a 67-63 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The 5-foot-8 Heideman gave the Lynx a big boost in the final five minutes of the third, scoring eight points.
The Mercury bounced back from an early deficit, shooting 54.3 % from the field in the first half to take a 48-44 halftime lead. Copper had 17 points before the break on 8 of 9 shooting while Thomas added 11 points and 5 rebounds. Minnesota was led by Collier’s 13 points.
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The Mercury were riding high coming into Game 3 after a 20-point comeback win in Tuesday’s Game 2 that evened the series. It was tied for the third-largest comeback in WNBA playoff history.
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Game Recap: Minnesota Lynx vs. Phoenix Mercury (Semi-Finals, Game 3)

Semis Game Recap

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Game Recap: Lynx vs. Mercury (9/26/25)

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Natisha Hiedeman with 19 Points vs. Phoenix Mercury

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Phoenix Mercury vs. Minnesota Lynx - Game Highlights

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Top Plays of the Day, 09/21/2025

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Highlights From Natisha Hiedeman 7-Assist Game

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Napheesa Collier scored 20 points to lead five players in double figures and the Minnesota Lynx breezed to a 101-72 victory over the Golden State Valkyries on Sunday in Game 1 of the best-of-three first-round WNBA series.
Collier hit 7 of 11 shots with a 3-pointer and all five of her free throws, adding six rebounds.
Natisha Hiedeman made two 3-pointers and scored 18 for the Lynx, while Kayla McBride added 17. Jessica Shepard had 12 points and eight rebounds and Courtney Williams pitched in with 11 points and four steals.
Veronica Burton and Cecilia Zandalasini both scored 14 to lead Golden State. Burton added seven assists and three steals but also had seven of the Valkyries’ 16 turnovers. Janelle Salaün had 13 points and eight rebounds and Temi Fágbénlé scored 12 before fouling out.
Burton hit two 3-pointers for Golden State in an 11-4 run to start the game and the Valkyries led 28-21 after one quarter.
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Alanna Smith hit a 3-pointer with 8:47 left in the third quarter for a 52-42 advantage and Minnesota led by double digits the rest of the way. DiJonai Carrington sank two 3-pointers and Williams hit one in the final 70 seconds as the Lynx took a 79-58 lead into the final period.
The Valkyries are still looking for their first win over the Lynx in their first year in the league after losing all four regular-season matchups — three by double digits.
Minnesota’s 34-10 record led the league. Golden State will host Game 2 on Wednesday.
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Game Recap: Golden State Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx (First Round, Game 1)

First Round Game Recap

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Game Recap: Valkyries vs. Lynx (9/14/25)

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Natisha Hiedeman with 18 Points vs. Golden State Valkyries

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Minnesota Lynx Top Plays vs. Golden State Valkyries

Latest

Natisha Hiedeman

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CAREER TRANSACTIONS:
<ul>
<li>Drafted with the 18th overall pick by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2019 WNBA Draft and was traded to the Connecticut Sun in exchange for Lexie Brown in a draft-day trade.</li>
<li>Waived by Connecticut prior to the start of the 2019 season. Signed by the Atlanta Dream on June 19, 2019 as a EuroBasket replacement for Alex Bentley, then waived by Atlanta on July 1, 2019. Claimed off waivers by Connecticut on July 3, 2019.</li>
<li>Signed to a contract by the Sun on February 10, 2020.</li>
</ul>
2023 SEASON WITH CONNECTICUT:
<ul>
<li>Appeared and started in all 40 games for the Sun in 2023.</li>
<li>Averaged 8.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.</li>
<li>Recorded a career-high 24 points against Atlanta on 7/20.
<ul>
<li>Tallied 20 of her 24 points in the third quarter, setting a new franchise record for most points scored by an individual player in a single quarter.</li>
<li>Recorded a career-high six three-point field goals in the game.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Tallied a career-high two blocks against Atlanta on 7/22.</li>
<li>Eclipsed 1,000th career-points on 8/4 against Indiana.</li>
<li>Reached 300 career-assists on 6/18 against Los Angeles.</li>
<li>Moved into 20th all-time in scoring (1,117), 13th all-time in assists (363), sixth all-time in three-point field goals made (215) in Connecticut Sun history.</li>
</ul>
2022 WNBA Season (with Connecticut):
<ul>
<li>Appeared in all 36 regular season contests for Connecticut, starting 31.</li>
<li>Finished with 329 points, 63 rebounds, 118 assists, 42 steals and four blocks.</li>
<li>Averaged a career-best 9.1 points, 3.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game in 2022.</li>
<li>Tallied her 500th career-point in a loss to Dallas on 5/24.</li>
<li>Dished out her 200th career-assist in a loss to Chicago on 6/29.</li>
<li>Tied her career-high with 19 points in a win over Minnesota on 7/24, sinking a career-high five three-point field goals.</li>
<li>Notched a career-high five steals in a win over Washington on 7/3, while playing a career-high 40 minutes.</li>
</ul>
2021 WNBA Season (with Connecticut):
<ul>
<li>Played in all 32 games for the Sun and started in five (5/14 at ATL, 5/16 vs PHX, 5/21 at PHX, 5/23 at LVA and 5/25 at SEA).</li>
<li>Finished the season with 242 points, 644 minutes played, 58 rebounds, 60 assists, 27 steals and 51 three-pointers made.</li>
<li>Nabbed her 100th career assist in the game against MIN (5/30).</li>
<li>She earned her 300th point in the game against New York on 6/5/21.</li>
<li>Scored in double-figures ten times this season and had a career high 19 points in the game against Indiana (5/19).</li>
<li>Scored a new career high 4 three pointers in two games this season (5/25 vs SEA and 7/3 vs IND).</li>
<li>Earned a new career high finishing with eight rebounds (5/14 vs ATL).</li>
</ul>
2020 WNBA Season (with Connecticut):
<ul>
<li>Competed in all 22 regular season games and made four starts in her second year in the league. Also appeared in all seven postseason matchups.</li>
<li>Tallied 134 total points, 42 rebounds and 41 assists. Averaged 6.1 points and 1.9 rebounds and assists. Shot 35.4 percent from the field, 35.9 from behind the arc and 70 percent from the free throw line.</li>
<li>Scored 22 points during the post season, including nine assists and five made three pointers on eight attempts.</li>
<li>Recorded a career-high 16 points and six FGM against Phoenix (9/9) and a career-high seven rebounds against Seattle (8/4).</li>
<li>Scored 14 points in 17 minutes against Las Vegas (9/20) on four made three-point field goals, the most of her post season and regular season career.</li>
</ul>
2019 WNBA Season (with Connecticut and Atlanta):
<ul>
<li>Picked up by the Atlanta Dream for 13 games before the Sun claimed her off waivers on July 3</li>
<li>Appeared in 20 regular season games and seven Playoff games in her rookie season</li>
<li>Finished with 73 points, 30 rebounds and 38 assists</li>
<li>Went 24-of-58 from the field, 13-of-28 from behind the arc and shot 50% from the free throw line (12-of-24)</li>
<li>Recorded a season-high 10 points against Atlanta (7/10)</li>
<li>Dished out a season-high nine assists against Dallas (9/4)</li>
</ul>
WNBA POSTSEASON CAREER:
2023 (Connecticut):
<ul>
<li>Appeared and started in seven postseason contests for Connecticut.</li>
<li>Averaged 14.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.6 steals per game.</li>
<li>Tied her postseason career-high with 30 points in Game 2 of the WNBA Semifinals against New York on 9/26.</li>
<li>Finished the 2023 postseason at second all-time in games played (37), fifth all-time in assists (78), 14th all-time in rebounds and third all-time in three-point field goals made (40) in Connecticut Sun postseason history.</li>
</ul>
2022 (Connecticut):
<ul>
<li>Appeared and started in all 12 playoff contests.</li>
<li>Finished the 2022 postseason with 98 points, 25 rebounds, 36 assists, eight steals and three blocks.</li>
<li>Dished out a postseason career-high nine assists in the Game 3 win over Las Vegas, while playing a playoff career-high 34 minutes.</li>
<li>Finished the 2022 postseason at 12th all-time in scoring (174), eighth all-time in assists (62), 12th all-time in steals (13) and third all-time in three-point field goals made (34) in Connecticut Sun postseason history.</li>
</ul>
2021 (Connecticut):
<ul>
<li>Played in all four playoff games against Sky.</li>
<li>Finished with 36 points, three rebounds, 12 assists, three steals, and two blocks in the series.</li>
<li>Averaged 9.0 points and 3.0 assists per game.</li>
<li>Went 11-22 from the floor (50%) and 9-15 from three (60%), including shooting 5-6 in game 4 (10/6).</li>
<li>Had five assists in game 2 (9/30)</li>
<li>Totaled 72 minutes of play in the series, averaging 18 minutes per game.</li>
</ul>
2020 (Connecticut):
<ul>
<li>Appeared in seven postseason contests for the Sun.</li>
<li>Averaged 3.1 points and 1.3 assists per game.</li>
<li>Tallied 14 points against Las Vegas on 9/20.</li>
</ul>
2019 (Connecticut):
<ul>
<li>Appeared in seven postseason contests for the Sun.</li>
<li>Finished the postseason with 18 points, four rebounds and five assists.</li>
</ul>
OVERSEAS COMPETITION:
<ul>
<li>2022-2023: Maccabi Bnot Ashdod (Israel)</li>
<li>2021-2022: Nadezhda Orenburg (Russia)</li>
<li>2020-2021: Maccabi Ironoi Ramat Gan (Israel)</li>
<li>2019-2020: Lulea (Sweden)</li>
</ul>
COLLEGE CAREER:
<ul>
<li>Unanimous BIG EAST Player of the Year (2019)</li>
<li>Unanimous All-BIG EAST First-Team (2019)</li>
<li>All-American Honorable Mention Honoree (2019)</li>
<li>Nancy Liberman Award Candidate (2019)</li>
<li>All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention (2017)</li>
<li>Just the third player in Marquette history to be drafted into the WNBA (Abbie Willenborg, 2000 and Angel Robinson, 2011); her selection at 18th overall is the highest pick in program history and the highest pick in the BIG EAST since conference realignment.</li>
<li>Finished her career at Marquette as the program’s third all-time leading scorer, just 27 points shy of the program record.</li>
<li>First Marquette player to reach 300 made three-pointers and finished sixth on the team’s all-time assist chart.</li>
</ul>
NATISHA HIEDEMAN IN THE NEWS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://winsidr.com/2023/09/same-stage-different-role-for-natisha-hiedeman/">Same Stage, Different Role for Natisha Hiedeman (September 18, 2023)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://gopsusports.com/news/2023/8/30/womens-basketball-natisha-hiedeman-promoted-to-womens-basketball-assistant-coach.aspx">Natisha Hiedeman Promoted to Women’s Basketball Assistant Coach (August 30, 2023)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.theday.com/sports/20230721/hiedeman-harris-give-the-sun-a-pair-of-capable-point-guards/">Hiedeman, Harris give the Sun a pair of capable point guards (July 21, 2023)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/38042742">Natisha Hiedeman goes for 20 points in 3rd quarter for Sun (July 20, 2023)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.theday.com/sports/20230626/aside-from-green-bay-connecticut-is-home-for-sun-point-guard-natisha-hiedeman/">Aside from Green Bay, Connecticut is home for Sun point guard Natisha Hiedeman (June 26, 2023)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.courant.com/2023/02/03/former-uconn-womens-standout-kia-nurse-signs-with-seattle-storm-natisha-hiedeman-re-signs-with-connecticut-sun/">Natisha Hiedeman re-signs with Connecticut Sun (February 3, 2023)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://gopsusports.com/news/2022/10/10/womens-basketball-womens-basketball-names-natisha-hiedeman-as-director-of-player-development.aspx">Women’s Basketball Names Natisha Hiedeman as Director of Player Development (October 10, 2022)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://nesn.com/2022/08/curt-miller-feels-natisha-hiedeman-deserves-wnba-most-improved-nod/">Curt Miller Feels Natisha Hiedeman Deserves WNBA Most Improved Nod (August 16, 2022)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://marquettewire.org/4056329/sports/former-big-east-player-of-the-year-finds-success-with-connecticut-sun/">Former BIG EAST Player of the Year finds success with Connecticut Sun (July 7, 2021)</a></li>
</ul>
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