Up by nine at intermission, the opening four minutes of the second half Thursday created plenty more breathing room for the Minnesota Lynx.
Efficiency on the offensive end started with the defense, a team hallmark that has been a struggle this month for the WNBA’s top team.
Minnesota scored 14 of the first 18 points in the third quarter and coasted to a 104-72 win in Toronto. The Lynx outscored the Tempo 54-31 in the final 20 minutes.
Winners of nine straight, Minnesota (23-6) has topped 100 points in five of their past seven outings and nine times overall, but this one was about the defense showing how good it can be when it’s locked in.
“Tonight was a perfect example of what we’re capable of and we just need to make sure we’re maintaining that and continue to be on the rise,” said Napheesa Collier, who scored 16 points, a total matched by Courtney Williams and Olivia Miles. A force inside, Natasha Howard had nine points and eight rebounds.
Minnesota’s defense rating in 11 July games is 109.9, 10th in the league during that stretch, and the Lynx allowed 89.5 points in their first eight games of this winning streak. Toronto (10-18) would not sniff that point total.
Two-dozen Tempo turnovers (the most by a Lynx opponent in 2026) led to 31 Minnesota points. And the Lynx tied a season high with 14 steals.
Critical of defense by the team’s guards a few games ago, coach Cheryl Reeve singled out Williams’s effort Thursday.
“(Kayla) McBride is going to be the one that’s flying around, guarding team’s best players, deflecting, giving everything she has,” the coach said. “I thought it was important tonight that we had others that would carry their load and it doesn’t all fall to her. I thought Courtney had some really terrific moments defensively. I know that she’s super proud of and I want to make sure that we shouted her out because I know that was a focus for her.”
“Her hands are really quick the way she’s able to stay in front of people,” Collier added. “When Courtney’s clicking it gives us a lot of energy too.”
Rebounds were 36-26 Minnesota, including 14-6 offensive. Howard had five offensive rebounds for the sixth time this season. Her season high is seven.
“I appreciate their commitment there,” Reeve said. “And I even thought defensive rebounding, we were pretty darn good. Phee got some hard ones under some physicality, Dorka (Juhasz) using her body well. We just know we have to be a good rebounding team to be successful.”
The Lynx shot 40 of 83 (48.2%) from the field, 34 for 61 (55.7%) in the final three quarters.
Up 50-41 to start the third quarter, Collier scored on a cutting layup and followed with a steal. An offensive rebound and layup by Howard followed.
Howard then had a steal and McBride drained one of her three 3-point shots and it was 57-41. She added a steal out of the ensuing Tempo timeout, but the Lynx did not convert. Later, Howard had two offensive rebounds and Collier one before Howard’s putback pushed the lead to 16. A steal and 3-pointer by McBride made it 64-45 and the rout was on.