Alyssa Thomas led the way with 23 points, and DeWanna Bonner hit two clutch 3-pointers late in the game as the Phoenix Mercury erased a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter to take control. The short-handed Minnesota Lynx fought back, with Kayla McBride sinking her sixth 3-pointer of the second half to bring the score to 77-76 with just over a minute left. Despite their efforts, the Lynx couldn’t complete the comeback and are now out of the playoffs.
After the game, Kayla McBride attended the post-game press conference, sitting with tears in her eyes when asked about the loss. She spoke about why it mattered so much, giving credit to her teammates, especially Napheesa Collier, who took a hard hit last game.
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She said, “It’s the people. The people I go to work with every day. I’ve been here five years, and to be this close—you just want it for the people around you. You want it for the ones who grind with you every single day: the good days, the bad days, the bus rides, the locker room. In pro sports, it doesn’t get any better than what we have in our locker room. That’s why I’m emotional. Because we lay it out for each other…”
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