Shocking move by New York Liberty less than season after WNBA title<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cThis stuff was never going to be easy,\u201d Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said after watching her team unravel.<\/p>\n
Whitcomb delivers the dagger<\/p>\n
The Mercury trailed 48-32 at the half and looked lifeless. But coach Nate Tibbetts lit a fire in the locker room, and Phoenix clawed its way back in the second half.<\/p>\n
The defining moment came with 4.3 seconds left in regulation. After an Alyssa Thomas offensive rebound and extra passes from Kahleah Copper and Satou Sabally, Sami Whitcomb buried a three to tie the game at 79 and force overtime.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was joking after, it takes 20,000 practice shots for one like that,\u201d Whitcomb said. \u201cBut that\u2019s why you put in the work, for moments like these.\u201d<\/p>\n
Phoenix rides momentum in OT<\/p>\n
Once the game hit overtime, Phoenix never looked back. Sabally powered the offense with 24 points and nine rebounds, while Thomas nearly posted a triple-double with 19 points, 13 assists, and eight boards. Whitcomb added 13 off the bench, with the biggest shot of the night.<\/p>\n
The Lynx, who finished the regular season 34-10 and owned the league\u2019s best home record, faltered under pressure. Napheesa Collier led Minnesota with 24 points, but turnovers and missed chances down the stretch doomed them.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnforced errors, not taking care of the ball, that was the difference,\u201d Collier admitted. \u201cWe beat ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
Series shifts to Phoenix<\/p>\n
With the best-of-five tied at one game apiece, the series now heads west. Games 3 and 4 will be played in Phoenix on Friday and Sunday, where the Mercury will have a chance to ride their momentum in front of a raucous home crowd.<\/p>\n
For Minnesota, it\u2019s a bitter reminder that no lead is safe in the postseason.<\/p>\n
MORE WNBA News:<\/p>\n
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