The Minnesota Lynx defeated the Phoenix Mercury 104-100 on Tuesday night at Target Center. The game stayed close for much of the night before the Lynx pulled ahead late.
Kayla McBride had one of her best games of the year. She finished with a season high 37 points. McBride also grabbed 6 rebounds and recorded 4 steals. Her scoring helped keep the Lynx in position throughout the contest.
Rookie Olivia Miles posted a career high 33 points. She added 8 assists and 3 rebounds. Miles shot 10 of 16 from the field and made 5 of 8 three point attempts. Her playmaking and shooting created chances for her teammates as well.
McBride and Miles combined for 70 points. This was the first time in Lynx history that two players each scored 30 or more points in the same game. Their output gave the team a strong foundation on offense.
Miles made her biggest impact in the closing moments. She scored 16 points in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter. Those points helped the Lynx take control and hold off the Mercury for the win.
Miles set the Lynx record for the most points by a rookie in a single game. She also became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 400 career points, 100 rebounds, and 100 assists. She hit those numbers in just 22 games.
The victory was the Lynx’s third in a row. The team leaned on steady contributions from McBride and a big effort from Miles to come away with the result. The Mercury stayed competitive but could not close the gap in the end.
The Lynx showed they can rely on their key players when games get tight. McBride provided consistent production from start to finish. Miles stepped up with scoring and playmaking at the right times. Together, their performances helped Minnesota improve its standing in the league. The win adds to the team’s recent progress as the season moves forward.