For the first time since 2021, the Phoenix Mercury are back with a chance to play for a championship. In a series where they were not expected to prevail, facing the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx, the Mercury defied the odds with an 86–81 win to close out the matchup 3–1.
What made it remarkable was not the victory itself but the way it unfolded. Entering the fourth quarter down 13 to the league’s best, the Mercury responded with a 31–13 surge, an avalanche of momentum that turned doubt into inevitability.
The result is a trip to the WNBA Finals, the sixth in franchise history, with the pursuit of a first title since 2014 still alive.
This Mercury team is built on resiliency, and on Sunday night, that identity was on full display. They became the first team in WNBA playoff history to erase 14-point deficits in multiple games and emerge victorious, fueled by yet another furious fourth-quarter push.
“Big Shot” DeWanna Bonner lived up to the name, drilling all three of her attempts from deep and pouring in 11 points in the final frame, nearly matching Minnesota’s entire output of 13.
The Lynx felt the absence of Phee Collier, sidelined by an ankle injury after a controversial foul in Game 4, and her presence was missed as Minnesota faltered in closing time. Kayla McBride did everything in her power, erupting for 31 points, but it wasn’t enough.
The sellout crowd of 16,919 rose to its feet, turning the arena into an echo chamber of momentum that made every Lynx possession feel heavier. Alyssa Thomas powered her way to 23 points and 10 assists, Satou Sabally added 21 and 6, and Bonner capped it with 11 of her 13 in the pivotal fourth.
Now the Mercury wait. The Las Vegas Aces and Indiana Fever battle in a decisive Game 5 on Tuesday, with the winner meeting Phoenix in the Finals on Friday. If Indiana advances, the series begins in the Valley. If Las Vegas survives, the Mercury take their resiliency on the road.
