The Minnesota Lynx took care of business at home.
Despite trailing by as many as 10 points early, the Lynx handily defeated the Valkyries 101-72 at Target Center in Minneapolis during Game 1 of the best-of-three, first-round series of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs, led by a 20-point performance from Napheesa Collier. However, all eyes will be on Collier’s right ankle moving forward.
Collier, who was out for seven games in the regular season with a right ankle sprain, appeared to tweak her right ankle after Golden State’s Kate Martin fell on Collier as she fouled Martin on a 3-point attempt. Collier gingerly walked back to the bench and checked out of the game with 1:29 remaining in the third quarter. Collier didn’t return, but the Lynx were leading by double-digits at the time she exited.
Collier finished the night with 20 points, six rebounds, two assists and one steal, shooting 7-of-11 from the field and 1-of-3 from the 3-point line. Natisha Hiedeman added 18 points and Kayla McBride had 17 points.
REDEMPTION? Can the Minnesota Lynx channel 2017 magic and claim another championship?
Veronica Burton and Cecilia Zandalasini each had 14 points in the losing effort. Janelle Salaun added 13
Here’s everything you missed from the Valkyries-Lynx game on Sunday:
Player of the game
Natisha Hiedeman showed exactly why she’s in the running for sixth woman of the year. Hiedeman recorded 18 points, four assists and three rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench in Sunday’s win, which marks a playoff career high for Hiedeman. Hiedeman is paramount to the Lynx’s depth.
Why did Golden State Valkyries lose?
Golden State relies on the 3-point line more than any other team in the league. Nearly 38% of the Valkyries points come from beyond the arc this season and Golden State averages a league-leading 9.7 made 3s per game, but the 3-pointers weren’t falling on Sunday. The Valkyries finished 8-of-30 (26.7%) from beyond the arch and shot 32.1% from the field. That’s not going to get it done against the league-leading Lynx.
When is Game 2?
The Golden State Valkyries host the Minnesota Lynx at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at SAP Center in San Jose, California. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
End of 3Q: Lynx 79, Valkyries 58
The Lynx are breaking the game open. Minnesota outscored the Valkyries 32-18 in the third quarter and have a commanding 21-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, marking the largest of the game.
Napheesa Collier has a game-high 20 points, six rebounds and two assists.
Collier was called for her fourth personal foul on a closeout on Valkyries’ Kate Martin at the 3-point line with 1:29 remaining in the third quarter. Martin didn’t have space to land and fell on Collier’s right ankle. Collier, who missed seven games this season due to a right ankle sprain, gingerly walked back to the bench while referees reviewed the play and was visibly upset on the bench after the play.
DiJonai Carrington returned to the lineup for the Lynx after missing the final four games of the regular season with a left shoulder injury. Carrington added instant impact from the bench and knocked down a pair of 3-pointers.
The Lynx are outscoring the Valkyries 34-16 in the paint.
Halftime: Lynx 47, Valkyries 40
The Lynx outscored the Valkyries 26-11 in the second quarter to take a seven-point lead into halftime.
Kayla McBride leads the Lynx with a game-high 14 points, shooting 5-of-8 from the field and 2-of-3 from the 3-point line. Napheesa Collier, who picked up two quick fouls in the final minute of the second quarter, has 11 points and five rebounds, while Natisha Hiedeman has nine points in 14 minutes off the bench. Courtney Williams is still looking for points after going 0-of-4 in the first half.
Three of the Valkyries starters have reached double digits, led by 12 points from Temi Fagbenle. Veronica Burton played all 20 minutes in the first half and has 10 points, shooting 3-of-11 from the field and 3-of-7 from 3. Cecilia Zandalasini added 10 points.
End of Q1: Valkyries 28, Lynx 21
The Lynx appeared to have some nerves early, with the Valkyries building a 10-point lead with 4:15 remaining in the first quarter. But the Lynx settled in and went on a 12-4 run to cut Golden State’s lead to four. Then it was the Valkyries turn. They closed the first quarter on a 6-0 run to extend their lead to seven points.
The 3 ball is falling early for the Valkyries. Golden State is shooting 5-of-8 from the 3-point line and 50% from the field. Temi Fagbenle and Janelle Salaun each have eight points for the Valkyries, while Veronica Burton added six.
The Lynx were missing some easy shots at the rim early and finished the quarter shooting 40% from the field and 2-of-6 from 3. Natisha Hiedeman provided an instant spark for the Lynx off the bench and is up to five points.
Veronica Burton gives Valkyries early lead vs. Lynx
The Valkyries didn’t appear to have nerves to begin the franchise’s first playoff game. Golden State jumped to a 11-4 lead in the first quarter, with Veronica Burton knocking down two 3-pointers for six points.
What time is Golden State Valkyries at Minnesota Lynx?
The Minnesota Lynx host the Golden State Valkyries at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) on Sunday, Sept. 14 at Target Center in Minneapolis. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
Minnesota Lynx starting lineup
Head coach: Cheryl Reeve
6 Bridget Carleton | F 6′ 2′ – Iowa State
8 Alanna Smith | F 6′ 4′ – Stanford
10 Courtney Williams | G 5′ 8′ – South Florida
21 Kayla McBride | G 5′ 11′ – Notre Dame
24 Napheesa Collier | F 6′ 1′ – UConn
Golden State Valkyries starting lineup
6 Kaila Charles | G 6′ 1′ – Maryland
12 Iliana Rupert | C 6′ 4′ – France
13 Janelle Salaun | F 6′ 2′ – France
14 Temi Fagbenle | C 6′ 4′ – USC
22 Veronica Burton | G 5′ 9′ – Northwestern
2025 WNBA playoff arrivals: Napheesa Collier serves
The Lynx saved some of their best looks of the year for the opening game. MVP candidate Napheesa Collier led the way for the Lynx with her cropped puffer vest, Jordan brand top and camo pants.
Lynx ready to ‘go to war’
The Minnesota Lynx are ready to ‘go to war for each other,’ forward Napheesa Collier declared.
The No. 1 seed Lynx will tipoff the 2025 WNBA playoffs on Sunday with a first-round matchup against the No. 8 Golden State Valkyries, who were swept by Minnesota in the regular-season (0-4), most recently in Thursday’s 72-53 blow out loss to end the regular season.
MVP candidate Collier had 19 points in the win, shooting 8-of-10 from the field and 3-of-4 from behind the arc. She finished the regular season averaging career-highs in points (22.9), field-goal percentage (53.1%) and blocks (1.5) and joins the exclusive 50-40-90 club. Collier is the second WNBA player to record 50% shooting from the field, 40% from the 3-point line and 90% from the free throw line, joining Elena Delle Donne (2019).
The Lynx are coming off a controversial 2024 WNBA Finals loss to the New York Liberty in a winner-take-all Game 5 that went to overtime.
‘We’re a better team just because we have that year of experience,’ she said following Thursday’s win over the Valkyries. ‘ We got to the very last possible game of the season last year. We know what it takes, so I think experience it makes us better. It made us hungrier. And obviously that’s something that we are thinking about going into the playoffs this year.’
The Valkyries became the first expansion team in WNBA history to make the playoffs in its inaugural season, but it will be a uphill battle against the Lynx, who have the top-ranked offense and defense in the league. Veronica Burton has emerged as Golden State’s leading scorer following Kayla Thornton’s season-ending injury in July. Burton is averaging 11.9 points, 6.0 assists and 4.4 rebounds.
How to watch Golden State Valkyries at Minnesota Lynx: TV, stream
Time: 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT)
Location: Target Center (Minneapolis)
TV channel: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN+, Disney+, Fubo (free trial to new subscribers)
WNBA playoffs schedule: Lynx vs. Valkyries first-round series
Game 1: Valkyries at Lynx 1 p.m. ET Sunday (ESPN)
Game 2: Lynx at Valkyries, 10 p.m. ET Wednesday (ESPN)
Game 3: Valkyries at Lynx TBD Friday (ESPN2)
Can the Minnesota Lynx channel 2017 magic and claim another championship?
The Minnesota Lynx have a chip on their shoulder. After losing the 2024 WNBA Finals to the New York Liberty in a winner-take-all Game 5 that went to overtime, Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve emphatically called out “disappointing officiating,” saying the championship was “stolen from us.”
The heartbreaking loss lingers 10 months later, as the league-leading Lynx are in position to make another deep playoff run. “You feel that loss for a long time,” Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman told USA TODAY Sports. It has been the driving force behind the Lynx’s record-breaking season with the same goal: Winning a championship.
Minnesota Lynx roster
00 Jaylyn Sherrod G 1 5′ 7′ – Colorado
2 Natisha Hiedeman G 6 5′ 8′ 132 Marquette
3 DiJonai Carrington G 4 5′ 11′ 175 Baylor
6 Bridget Carleton F 6 6′ 2′ 177 Iowa State
7 Anastasiia Olairi Kosu F Rookie 6′ 1′ 190
8 Alanna Smith F 7 6′ 4′ 177 Stanford
10 Courtney Williams G 9 5′ 8′ 148 South Florida
15 Jessica Shepard F 6 6′ 4′ 175 Notre Dame
20 Camryn Taylor F Rookie 6′ 2′ – Virginia
21 Kayla McBride G 11 5′ 11′ 179 Notre Dame
24 Napheesa Collier F 7 6′ 1′ 180 Connecticut
77 Maria Kliundikova C 7 6′ 4′ 185
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