The WNBA semifinals between the Minnesota Lynx and the Phoenix Mercury is a powerhouse matchup of two of the WNBA\u2019s best teams.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Lynx have seemed unstoppable in 2025. They held the best record in the regular season, finishing 34-10, and swept the upstart Golden State Valkyries in two games to move through the first round.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The star of Minnesota\u2019s success in 2025 has been the efforts of star forward Napheesa Collier. Collier averaged 22.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game while shooting an impressive 53.1% from the field. She was in MVP talks all season and finished second in voting behind A\u2019ja Wilson, who took the award for the fourth time in her career.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Sep 21, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) dribbles the ball past Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) in the first half during game one of the second round for the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images \/ Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Collier was expected to be a major part of the Lynx\u2019s success in the playoffs and she has so far impressed, finishing Game 1 of the semifinals with 18 points, though that was third on the team in the game behind guards Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams as part of a dominant 82-69 win over the Mercury.<\/p>\n
Phoenix\u2019s answer for Collier\u2019s dominance is forward Alyssa Thomas, who finished third in MVP voting behind Wilson and Collier. When Thomas was asked about the task of guarding Collier at halftime, she had a confident answer.<\/p>\n
Alyssa Thomas being asked about guarding Napheesa Collier <\/p>\n
\u201cShe gotta guard me too. We good.\u201d and the walk off <\/p>\n
We got a very fun matchup on our hands folks!! pic.twitter.com\/Xjl4TQ5ezu<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Tyler DeLuca (@TylerDeLuca) September 21, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cShe gotta guard me too, we\u2019re doing the same thing. So, we\u2019re good,\u201d Thomas said (via Tyler DeLuca of NoCapSpace WNBA<\/a>).\u00a0<\/p>\n Such an answer was sure to turn heads, and in the light of the Mercury\u2019s loss, Thomas may have to eat her words. While Thomas and Collier both finished with 18 points, Thomas scored just two points in the second half and the Lynx\u2019s deep roster overcame anything Phoenix threw at them. Some WNBA fans haven\u2019t forgotten Thomas\u2019 confident answer.\u00a0<\/p>\n WNBA FANS REACT TO THOMAS\u2019 COMMENTS<\/p>\n \u201c2 points 2nd half,\u201d one fan commented<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cLol.\u00a0 Sry folks missed this one,\u201d another fan said<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201c18 pts on 17 shots and she shoots nothing but in the paint. I think phee did her job,\u201d a fan said<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201c\u200b\u200bTHIS IS THE FUNNIEST THING I’VE SEEN ALL DAY LMFAO,\u201d one fan commented<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cGuess Phee did it a little better,\u201d another fan posted<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cthat\u2019s insecurity talking right there,\u201d one fan said<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWalked straight into a L,\u201d another posted<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sep 21, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) dribbles the ball against the Minnesota Lynx in the second half during game one of the second round for the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images \/ Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images<\/p>\n \u201cWomp womp,\u201d a fan said<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThis didn\u2019t age well,\u201d another said<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe arrogance will be their downfall!\u201d a fan commented<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Mercury will have to find a way to answer the Lynx\u2019s deep roster to contend in the best-of-five semifinals. After Game 1\u2019s performance, it\u2019s clear that Collier is not the single threat on the team that needs to be contained, but one of many. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n