PHOENIX (AP) — Alyssa Thomas scored 23 points, and DeWanna Bonner made two key 3-pointers in the fourth quarter as the Phoenix Mercury overcame a 13-point deficit in the final period to beat the short-handed Minnesota Lynx 86-81 in Game 4 on Sunday night. With the victory, Phoenix advances to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2021.
The Mercury will face the winner of the Indiana-Las Vegas series in the championship round. Indiana forced a decisive Game 5 earlier Sunday with a 90-83 home victory. Phoenix won the final three games of the best-of-five semifinal series to secure their spot in the Finals.
The top-seeded Lynx were without head coach Cheryl Reeve, who was suspended for Game 4 due to her behavior and comments toward officials during Game 3. Minnesota also played without All-Star guard Napheesa Collier, who suffered an ankle injury near the end of the previous game.
Phoenix trailed 68-55 heading into the fourth quarter but began their comeback with a 3-pointer from Sami Whitcomb that brought the score to 70-69 with 4:46 left in the game. Bonner then hit a crucial three-pointer to give the Mercury a 72-70 lead, followed by another triple with 2:03 remaining to extend the lead to 77-73.
Minnesota’s Kayla McBride responded by hitting her sixth 3-pointer of the second half, cutting the gap to 77-76 with 1:04 left. The 38-year-old Bonner then made a pair of free throws to push Phoenix ahead 79-76. Bonner finished the quarter with 11 points.
Satou Sabally led the Lynx with 21 points, while McBride scored a game-high 31 points, shooting 6-of-11 from beyond the arc. Courtney Williams added 20 points for Minnesota.
Earlier in the game, Phoenix’s Kahleah Copper hit a 3-pointer early in the third quarter to give the Mercury their first lead at 41-38. However, the Lynx countered with a 23-9 run, fueled by three three-pointers from McBride, regaining control of the game. Minnesota had jumped out to an early 12-1 lead, but Phoenix steadily chipped away at the deficit.
Just before halftime, Thomas assisted Bonner for a layup that tied the game at 38. Sabally led Phoenix with 18 points before the break.
Phoenix will now play in the WNBA Finals for the first time in four years, aiming to win their first championship since 2014.