2024-09-27 00:40:02
Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images
Napheesa Collier had a night to remember on Wednesday by tying the WNBA postseason record with 42 points in the Minnesota Lynx’s 101-88 win over the Phoenix Mercury in Game 2 to send the team into the semifinals.
The four-time All-Star finished 14-of-20 from the field to tie the postseason scoring record previously done twice by Breanna Stewart (2022) and Angel McCoughtry (2010).
On top of her point total, Collier added five rebounds and four assists. She is only the second player with at least 40 points, four rebounds and four assists in a playoff game, joining Lynx legend Maya Moore.
WNBA @WNBA
Napheesa Collier was unstoppable in the Lynx’s Game 2 win over the Mercury!
42 PTS (ties postseason WNBA record)
5 REB
4 AST
70 FG%
Phee’s 80 PTS over her last 2 games are the most points over any 2-game stretch in WNBA Playoff history 🔥#WNBAPlayoffs presented by @google pic.twitter.com/IMYs1MHKiO
Automatic @automaticnba
WNBA players with 40/4/4 in a playoff game:
– Maya Moore against the Mercury (Sept 27, 2015)
– Napheesa Collier against the Mercury (Sept 25, 2024) pic.twitter.com/1Kn71NcmTh
Collier had just set her career high with 38 points in Game 1 of the series on Sunday. Her 80 points in the two games combined are 27 more than any other player has so far in this postseason.
Underdog WNBA @Underdog__WNBA
Most points in a postseason game:
NAPHEESA COLLIER 42
Angel McCoughtry 42
Breanna Stewart 42
Collier has 80 points through 2 games in the playoffs. No other player has more than 53. pic.twitter.com/PH4m4PFm2F
Dating back to last season, Collier has scored at least 30 points in three straight playoff games. That ties a WNBA record set by three-time MVP A’ja Wilson during the Las Vegas Aces’ run to the championship last year.
Collier scored 12 of Minnesota’s 28 points in the second quarter after the Mercury opened the game with a 25-21 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Wednesday’s performance was just another moment of brilliance in what has been a fantastic 2024 season for Collier. She finished second in MVP voting to Wilson after leading the Lynx to a franchise-record 30 wins in the regular season.
The next step for Collier and the Lynx will be a showdown with the Connecticut Sun in the semifinals. Minnesota will host Game 1 of the series on Sunday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Collier will look to keep her red-hot scoring streak going against a Sun team that led the league in points allowed and defensive rating in the regular season. She shot 58.3 percent from the field and averaged 21.7 points per contest in three games against Connecticut in the regular season.
