The Phoenix Mercury have a 2-1 lead over the Minnesota Lynx, and it didn’t even take a 20-point comeback this time.In front of a raucous PHX Arena crowd, the Mercury won Game 3 84-76 on Friday to take over a series that was previously slipping through their hands after seven quarters. In a game with 15 lead changes, no team ever led by double digits.

The Mercury’s physicality ultimately proved the difference, outrebounding Minnesota 37-29. Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper all topped 20 points, with Thomas also posting 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals and 2 blocks.

Fans took to social media immediately, both praising Phoenix’s resilience and expressing deep concern for Collier. “My heart stopped when I saw her fall,” one fan tweeted.

“She’s been carrying this team all year — this can’t be how it ends.” Others criticized the intense minutes load Collier has carried all season, noting that she’s averaged one of the highest usage rates in the league.

“You can’t keep running a player 40 minutes a night and not expect something to give,” one analyst posted. The injury reignited long-standing debates about player workload, league scheduling, and the physical toll of back-to-back playoff games in the WNBA’s condensed calendar.

If Collier’s injury proves to be serious — and early reports suggest it might be — it could alter not just the outcome of this series, but the entire playoff landscape. The Lynx have built their identity around her leadership, consistency, and quiet dominance. Without her, Minnesota would face the near-impossible task of rallying past a surging Mercury team on the brink of closing out the series. For the league, it would be a devastating loss — Collier is not only one of the most skilled forwards in the game but also one of its most respected ambassadors.

Sabally was the one who came up most clutch, posting 15 of her points in the fourth quarter as Phoenix finally pulled away.

Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday evening in Phoenix.

A disastrous ending for the Lynx

Blowing that lead in Game 2 was bad for Minnesota. Game 3’s ending might have been worse.

The dagger effectively came with less than 30 seconds left, when Thomas got a steal on Napheesa Collier and made a breakaway layup to put the Mercury up six points. The contact on the steal sent Collier reeling, which infuriated Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve so much that she walked on the court to berate the officials before her team could inbound the ball.

As Collier stayed on the floor in clear pain, Reeve had to be held back by multiple coaches and players. She received an ejection, while Collier was helped off the court with a noticeable limp. Replay showed Collier’s knee making contract with Thomas and her ankle rolling.

Reeve said in her postgame press conference that Collier might have a fracture. The owners of the best record in the WNBA are now a loss away from elimination and will need to survive another game in Phoenix just to force a winner-take-all game at home.

The WNBA world was rocked last night by a stunning upset and a terrifying moment that left fans, players, and commentators in disbelief. The Phoenix Mercury pulled off a massive 93–88 victory over the Minnesota Lynx in Game 3 of their playoff series, seizing a 2–1 lead in what has become one of the most chaotic postseason battles in recent memory. But the triumph was overshadowed by tragedy in the final seconds — when Lynx superstar Napheesa Collier collapsed on the court clutching her leg, sending shockwaves through the arena and silencing what had been a roaring crowd.

The game itself was an instant classic — a high-octane clash between two powerhouse teams fighting for survival. The Mercury, written off by many after a rocky regular season and riddled with injuries of their own, came out with ferocious energy. Led by Diana Taurasi’s vintage performance and Brittney Griner’s dominance in the paint, Phoenix controlled the tempo early, stunning the Lynx with a 12–0 opening run. The Lynx fought back behind Collier’s brilliance, as the MVP finalist poured in 31 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, keeping her team within striking distance all night. Every possession felt like a heavyweight exchange — a war of wills between two teams refusing to break.

But with just 24 seconds left on the clock, the game — and perhaps the series — took a horrifying turn. As Collier drove to the basket, she appeared to land awkwardly on her left leg after a contested layup. She immediately crumpled to the floor, clutching her knee in visible agony. Play stopped instantly as teammates and opponents alike rushed to her side. The Target Center fell eerily silent, the kind of silence that only comes when everyone knows something serious has happened. Trainers sprinted onto the court, followed by head coach Cheryl Reeve, who looked distraught as Collier struggled to move. After several tense minutes, she was helped off the floor by medical staff, unable to put any weight on her leg.

The emotional toll was immediate. The Lynx players, some visibly crying, huddled together on the sideline, while the Mercury bench stood respectfully quiet. Taurasi, known for her fierce competitiveness, was among the first to approach Collier before she left the court, offering words of support. “Nobody wants to see that,” Taurasi said afterward. “Napheesa’s one of the best in the game — she’s the heart of that team. You just hope it’s not as bad as it looked.”

The final seconds of the game were almost an afterthought. The Mercury held on for the win as the Lynx, emotionally shattered, missed a pair of desperation threes. The buzzer sounded, but the atmosphere was somber — no celebration, no cheers, just worry. Cameras caught Reeve walking off the court with her arm around assistant coach Katie Smith, both appearing shaken. In the postgame press conference, Reeve’s voice cracked as she gave a brief update: “It’s too early to say anything definitive, but it doesn’t look good. We’ll know more after the scans.”

For Phoenix, the victory should have been a moment of triumph. After an up-and-down season marked by injuries, coaching changes, and questions about team chemistry, the Mercury have found new life in the playoffs. Kahleah Copper was sensational once again, scoring 26 points with relentless energy on both ends of the court. Taurasi, the veteran legend, added 19 points and four assists, while Griner controlled the paint with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks. It was a performance full of grit and pride — the kind of game that reminded fans why Phoenix can never truly be counted out.

Still, even as the Mercury celebrated in the locker room, the mood was subdued. “We’re happy about the win,” Copper said quietly, “but nobody’s celebrating when someone like ‘Phee’ goes down. She’s a warrior. You never want to see that happen to anyone — especially not in the playoffs.”

The WNBA has seen its share of postseason drama, but this moment hit differently. It combined the thrill of an underdog victory with the heartbreak of watching one of the league’s brightest stars potentially sidelined at the height of her powers. The phrase “playoff chaos” doesn’t even begin to cover it — this was raw emotion, the cruel unpredictability of sport laid bare.

As the series now shifts back to Phoenix for Game 4, the entire basketball world will be holding its breath. The Mercury are one win away from advancing, but even they admit it won’t feel complete without knowing Collier is okay. “You want to win the right way,” Griner said postgame. “You never want someone to get hurt — not ever.”

League officials have confirmed that Collier will undergo an MRI today, with results expected to be announced before Game 4. Until then, uncertainty hangs heavy over the series. The Lynx’s championship hopes — and Collier’s season — hang in the balance.

What began as an incredible night of basketball ended in shock, fear, and compassion — a reminder that in sports, triumph and tragedy can arrive in the same breath. The Mercury may have taken the lead, but the story now belongs to Napheesa Collier — a star whose strength and resilience have defined Minnesota’s season, and whose health now defines the WNBA’s postseason.