Phoenix is heading back to the WNBA Finals

Alyssa Thomas scored 23 points, and DeWanna Bonner hit two clutch fourth-quarter 3-pointers to lead the Phoenix Mercury to an 86-81 comeback victory over the short-handed Minnesota Lynx in Game 4 on Sunday. The Mercury erased a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to advance to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2021.

Phoenix will face the winner of the Indiana-Las Vegas series, as Indiana forced a decisive Game 5 earlier on Sunday with a 90-83 home win. The Mercury took the final three games of the best-of-five semifinal series, overcoming the absence of Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve, who was suspended for Game 4 due to her conduct toward officials in Game 3. The Lynx was also without All-Star guard Napheesa Collier, who suffered an ankle injury in Game 3.

Trailing 68-55 after three quarters, Phoenix mounted a furious rally, pulling within 70-69 on Sami Whitcomb’s 3-pointer with 4:46 left. Bonner then hit back-to-back 3-pointers, the second giving Phoenix a 77-73 lead with 2:03 remaining.Kayla McBride kept Minnesota close with her sixth 3-pointer of the second half, cutting the Mercury’s lead to 77-76 with 1:04 left. However, Bonner, who scored 11 of her points in the final quarter, made two free throws to secure a 79-76 lead.

Satou Sabally added 21 points for Phoenix, while McBride led Minnesota with 31 points, including 6-of-11 3-point shooting. Courtney Williams contributed 20 points for the Lynx, whose fourth-quarter struggles were a recurring issue throughout the series.

Phoenix’s Kahleah Copper gave the Mercury their first lead of the game, 41-38, with a 3-pointer early in the third quarter, but Minnesota responded with a 23-9 run, fueled by three McBride 3-pointers. The Lynx had jumped out to an early 12-1 lead before Phoenix gradually closed the gap, with Thomas assisting Bonner on a layup to tie the game at 38 just before halftime.

The Mercury’s roster featured only two players, Copper and Natasha Mack, from their 2024 team, making them the first WNBA team to reach two Finals in a five-year span with entirely different rosters. Phoenix will now compete for its first championship since 2021.