The Minnesota Lynx were not favored to win the Commissioner’s Cup, but they did just that on the road on Tuesday, beating the New York Liberty, 94-89. It took a dominant third quarter, during which Minnesota held New York to just 10 points, for the Lynx to gain the advantage and control the game.
The Lynx got it done thanks to the best performance of Bridget Carleton’s WNBA career, which included 23 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals in the win. The Commissioner’s Cup MVP has been the Lynx’s MVP all season: Naphessa Collier. She scored 21 points, grabbed six rebounds and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line and a flawless 3-for-3 from the 3-point line.
The victory not only brought hardware and bragging rights for Minnesota, but also dollars. The team won $500,000, which will be divided among the roster. The Lynx also earned an extra $10,000 for their chosen charity, Gender Justice, which focuses on advancing efforts for gender equality. The Liberty earned $5,000 for its charity, Women Creating Change.
The opening quarter was balanced, with the Liberty narrowly edging out the Lynx 27-23 after one. New York got the lead thanks to a 7-3 scoring burst in the final 88 seconds of the frame. Sabrina Ionescu led the charge, playing every…
