WNBA Dimes
Hosted by Cookie
About This Episode
Generated sports podcast with host Cookie based on prompt: Daily WNBA news. Scores, highlights, and general news. Call it WNBA Dimes
Transcript
Hey! It's Cookie O'Clock! Welcome back to "WNBA Dimes," where we're serving up hot takes and highlights fresher than your morning coffee. I'm Brooke, and today, we've got some nail-biting action to dive into.
First, let's chat about the Phoenix Mercury’s heart-stopping victory over the Minnesota Lynx. In a rollercoaster of a game, Phoenix came from behind, overcoming a hefty 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter. They sealed the deal with an 86–81 win, propelling themselves into the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2021. Talk about never giving up!
Trailing 68–55 after three quarters, Phoenix pulled off a spectacular 31–13 run. DeWanna Bonner was on fire, dropping 11 points in the final quarter with some jaw-dropping clutch threes. And let’s not forget Alyssa Thomas—23 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds. Legendary stuff! Thomas summed it up perfectly, saying, “We could have easily given up and be headed to Minnesota right now. But we stuck together and dug deep on defense.” Inspirational, right?
Meanwhile, Minnesota was battling without their head coach Cheryl Reeve and All-Star Napheesa Collier. But don’t count out Kayla McBride—she lit up the scoreboard with 31 points. Still, the Lynx couldn’t hold on and watched their lead slip away. A rare meltdown from a usually rock-solid team.
Shifting gears to Indiana, where the Fever brought the heat to Las Vegas, securing a 90–83 win and forcing a decisive Game 5. Aliyah Boston was an absolute powerhouse, dropping 24 points and grabbing 14 boards. Kelsey Mitchell also sizzled with 25 points, adding a touch of finesse to Boston's force. The Fever showed calm nerves when Odyssey Sims drained crucial free throws in the final moments.
And can we talk about that critical call blunder by Las Vegas? Calling an extra timeout at the wrong moment gave Indiana the technical foul advantage, and oh, did they capitalize! It was a pivotal mistake that sealed the game for the Fever.
On the Vegas side, A’ja Wilson was nothing short of incredible, scoring 31 points and adding her name to the history books with her 17th career playoff 30-point game. But unfortunately, it just wasn't enough to outshine Indiana’s balanced assault.
Now, all eyes turn to the upcoming Game 5 showdown on Tuesday between the Fever and the Aces. It's winner-takes-all, folks! Will Indiana’s Cinderella story continue, or will Vegas find their rhythm and restore order? One thing's for sure: Phoenix will be watching closely as they prep for the Finals.
Looking at the bigger picture, Phoenix’s journey back to the finals is a lesson in resilience. Despite roster changes and midseason hurdles, they’ve pushed through, marking a historical moment as the first team to make two Finals appearances in a five-year span with different lineups. Coach Nate Tibbets deserves a hat tip for keeping the belief alive.
For Indiana, this Game 5 is about fighting through adversity. Injuries have been a constant hurdle, yet the Fever are thriving, thanks to Boston’s dominance and Mitchell’s cool composure. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the Michelob Ultra Arena will undoubtedly be electrifying.
Want to see the plays we’re raving about? Check out those highlights on the WNBA's video archive. You’ll catch Bonner’s clutch threes and Boston’s monster double-double that’s making waves.
So, don't miss the action as we gear up for an epic conclusion to the semis. That's all we've got for today's episode of "WNBA Dimes." Catch you next time, and remember, always keep your game tight and your cookies crispy!
## Phoenix Overcomes Lynx to Reach WNBA Finals
The Phoenix Mercury closed out their best-of-five semifinal series with a thrilling 86–81 victory over the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday, overcoming a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter to advance to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2021 ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/wnba/recap/_/gameId/401820338)). Trailing 68–55 after three quarters, Phoenix erupted for a 31–13 final period, keyed by DeWanna Bonner’s 11 fourth-quarter points and Alyssa Thomas’s 23-point effort. Thomas, who added 10 assists and eight rebounds, reflected on the team’s resilience: “We could have easily given up and be headed to Minnesota right now. But we stuck together and dug deep on defense” ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/wnba/recap/_/gameId/401820338)). Satou Sabally chipped in 21 points, while veteran guard Bonner (38 years old) sank two clutch 3-pointers down the stretch.
Minnesota was playing without head coach Cheryl Reeve (suspended for Game 4) and All-Star forward Napheesa Collier (ankle injury), yet Kayla McBride poured in a game-high 31 points on 6-of-11 three-point shooting, and Courtney Williams added 20 ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/wnba/recap/_/gameId/401820338)). The Lynx jumped out to an early 12–1 lead, but Phoenix chipped away—tying the game 38–38 on a Thomas layup at the halftime buzzer—and dominated the fourth quarter. Minnesota’s collapse marked a rare late-game meltdown, with the Lynx scoring just 13 points in the decisive frame. A condensed game recap and extended highlights are available on the WNBA’s official site, including clips of Bonner’s late-game heroics and Thomas’s all-around masterclass ([lynx.wnba.com](https://lynx.wnba.com/video/phoenix-mercury-vs-minnesota-lynx-game-highlights-3?utm_source=openai)).
## Fever Force Decisive Game 5 with Home Win over Aces
Earlier Sunday afternoon, the Indiana Fever staved off elimination with an 90–83 home victory over the Las Vegas Aces, knotting their semifinal series at 2–2 and forcing a winner-take-all Game 5 in Las Vegas on Tuesday ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/wnba/recap?gameId=401820337)). All-Star center Aliyah Boston dominated with 24 points and 14 rebounds, while guard Kelsey Mitchell added 25 points and four assists. Odyssey Sims contributed 18 points and four clutch free throws in the final 1:30, and Lexie Hull chipped in seven points, seven boards, and four steals ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/wnba/recap?gameId=401820337)).
A critical moment came with 30.1 seconds left, when Las Vegas mistakenly called an extra timeout, resulting in a technical foul and possession for Indiana. Boston converted the technical free throw and subsequent possession to push the lead from 86–77 to 87–77, effectively sealing the win. A’ja Wilson led the Aces with 31 points and nine rebounds, marking her 17th career playoff 30-point game—one shy of the league record—and her 1,024th playoff point ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/wnba/recap?gameId=401820337)). Four-time MVP Wilson also chipped in four steals, three blocks, and three assists, but it wasn’t enough against the Fever’s balanced attack. For highlights of Boston’s monster double-double and key plays from Mitchell and Sims, see the Fever’s official highlight reel ([fever.wnba.com](https://fever.wnba.com/video/aliyah-boston-monster-double-double-lifts-fever-over-aces-to-force-decisive-game-5-full-highlights?utm_source=openai)).
## Series Stakes and Upcoming Game 5
With Phoenix awaiting the winner of Tuesday’s Game 5 between the Fever and Aces, the title matchup will feature either the top-seeded Lynx or fourth-seeded Mercury versus the champion of the Eastern Conference semis. Indiana and Las Vegas will do battle at Michelob Ultra Arena on Tuesday, September 30 at 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2; time subject to confirmation) ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/wnba/recap?gameId=401820337)). The Fever will look to continue their postseason magic—having won three consecutive elimination games this year—while Las Vegas aims to regain the composure that carried them to a franchise-record 30 wins in the regular season.
## Historical Context and Key Storylines
Phoenix’s run to the Finals has been built on depth and adaptability. The Mercury have won three straight playoff games after dropping Game 1 of the series, and coach Nate Tibbets has praised his squad’s belief despite roster turnover. Aside from Thomas and Kahleah Copper, Phoenix has only two holdovers from its 2021 Finals team yet became “the first team in WNBA history to make two Finals in a five-year span without any of the same players” ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/wnba/recap/_/gameId/401820338)). Bonner’s late-game savvy and Sabally’s consistency have masked a midseason coaching change and key injuries.
Meanwhile, the Fever have overcome the absence of injured starters Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham, Sydney Colson, and Aari McDonald to force a decisive Game 5. Indiana’s last trip to the Finals came in 2009, and Boston’s emergence as a two-way force (leading the Fever in points, rebounds, steals, and blocks this postseason) has been pivotal. Kelsey Mitchell’s sharpshooting and veteran poise complement Boston’s interior dominance, setting up a high-stakes finale in Las Vegas.
## Where to Watch Highlights and Full Recaps
- Phoenix vs. Minnesota highlights (31–13 fourth quarter run, Thomas triple-double aftermath): WNBA.com video archive ([lynx.wnba.com](https://lynx.wnba.com/video/phoenix-mercury-vs-minnesota-lynx-game-highlights-3?utm_source=openai))
- Aliyah Boston’s monster double-double vs. Aces: Fever.wnba.com full-game highlights ([fever.wnba.com](https://fever.wnba.com/video/aliyah-boston-monster-double-double-lifts-fever-over-aces-to-force-decisive-game-5-full-highlights?utm_source=openai))
- In-depth box scores and play-by-play: ESPN recaps (Game 4 Mercury–Lynx ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/wnba/recap/_/gameId/401820338)); Game 4 Fever–Aces ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/wnba/recap?gameId=401820337)))
Stay tuned for our WNBA Dimes update after Tuesday’s Game 5 concludes the semifinals.
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