NAPHEESA COLLIER is the WNBA鈥檚 leading scorer in the postseason, but it isn鈥檛 her made baskets that matter when the Minnesota Lynx face the Connecticut Sun in the decisive Game 5 of their semifinal series on Tuesday night in Minneapolis.
It鈥檚 the opponents鈥 missed baskets that Collier will focus on as the two teams clash to determine who advances to play the New York Liberty in the WNBA Finals.
鈥淥ur offense was able to lift us up last game, but if that鈥檚 not working, we have to rely on our defense,鈥 Collier said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not been good the last two games. We鈥檙e both playing for our lives, so we have to play at that level of intensity.鈥
Minnesota is trying to reach the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2017. That season, the Lynx won their fourth title in a seven-season span.
Collier is averaging 27.2 points and 9.3 rebounds in the postseason. The regular-season MVP runner-up had 29 points and 13 rebounds in Sunday鈥檚 Game 4 when the Lynx lost 92-82 on the road.
Collier wasn鈥檛 pleased that her squad allowed 77 points over the final three quarters.
Connecticut鈥檚 Tyasha Harris was the surprise star with 20 points after she shot 4-of-5 from 3-point range.
Harris was scoreless in 13 minutes in the series entering Game 4. She missed Game 1 with an ankle injury and mostly sat and watched the next two games.
But her minutes picked up Sunday and the production followed.
鈥淪tay composed, be poised and be ready when your number is called,鈥 Harris said of her approach. 鈥 Reuters
