Napheesa Collier scored 34 points, tying the Lynx record for most in a season opener, while Courtney Williams added 25 points and nine assists as Minnesota defeated the Dallas Wings 99-84 on Friday night.
Key Highlights
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Collier vs. Bueckers:
- Collier outscored WNBA debutante Paige Bueckers, who scored 10 points.
- Bueckers, who played alongside Collier at the University of Connecticut (UConn) and USA Basketball, remarked, "We had some good ol’ friendly UConn chat at times on court. It’s extremely fun to play against Phee. She brings out the best in you because she is one of the best players."
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Collier’s Focus:
- Collier expressed her priority on helping the team overcome last season’s loss to the New York Liberty in the WNBA Finals rather than pursuing an MVP award. She stated, "I’m more interested in getting us over that hump."
Game Flow
- The Lynx dominated after three quarters, with Collier scoring 18 points during that period as Dallas seemed to tire.
- Dallas initially trailed by just four points but fell behind by double digits midway through the second quarter. They managed to take a two-point lead into halftime.
- Minnesota took control with a strong third-quarter performance, holding off Dallas’ late push for a win.
Bueckers’ Praise for Collier
Bueckers praised her former teammate for her performance, saying, "It’s always fun playing against Phee." She reflected on their time as teammates at UConn and noted the impressive debut of Aaliyah Edwards, who scored six points off the bench. Edwards shot three of five from the field, including one three-pointer that contributed to Minnesota’s largest lead of the game, which reached twelve points following back-to-back threes from both Williams and Sylvia Fowles.
Despite Edwards not scoring any additional baskets beyond her initial six points, her performance was notable, especially considering the young age and inexperience often attributed to Bueckers, who has already won multiple national championships at just nineteen years old.
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