Minnesota Lynx vs Phoenix Mercury Match Player Stats: Full Box Score and Analysis

The latest Minnesota Lynx vs Phoenix Mercury matchup ended with the Lynx earning a 104-100 win at Target Center on July 13, 2026. The game featured 23 lead changes and 13 ties, with both teams shooting above 55% from the field. Minnesota took control late, outscoring Phoenix 35-25 in the fourth quarter.

Kayla McBride led Minnesota with 37 points, while rookie Olivia Miles added a career-high 33 points and eight assists. Phoenix received 26 points from Kahleah Copper and a 19-point, 8-rebound, 12-assist performance from Alyssa Thomas.

This breakdown covers the main Minnesota Lynx vs Phoenix Mercury match player stats, team shooting numbers, leading performers, quarter-by-quarter scoring, and the numbers that explain how Minnesota turned a close game into a four-point victory.

Minnesota Lynx vs Phoenix Mercury: Match Result

The box score shows why the final margin was so small. Phoenix had more rebounds and assists and shot slightly better from three-point range. Minnesota gained ground through fewer turnovers, more steals, four blocked shots, and better free throw shooting.

Minnesota Lynx Player Stats

Kayla McBride and Olivia Miles carried a huge part of Minnesota’s scoring load. Together, they produced 70 points, which accounted for more than two-thirds of the Lynx’s total.

Kayla McBride

McBride finished with 37 points, six rebounds, one assist, four steals, and two blocks. She shot 11 of 17 from the field, 6 of 11 from three-point range, and a perfect 9 of 9 at the free throw line.

Her six made three-pointers were especially important late. According to the WNBA game recap, her sixth three gave Minnesota a 101-98 lead with 45.1 seconds left.

McBride’s 37 points also fell one point short of her career high. The performance gave Minnesota the scoring punch needed to survive Phoenix’s strong shooting night.

Olivia Miles

Miles recorded 33 points, three rebounds, eight assists, and five turnovers. She made 10 of 16 field-goal attempts, 5 of 8 three-pointers, and 8 of 9 free throws.

The 33 points marked a career high for Miles. She also became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 400 points, 100 rebounds, and 100 assists, doing so in 22 games.

Her playmaking became especially useful during the closing minutes. Miles found Natasha Howard for a layup with 21.1 seconds remaining, giving Minnesota a 103-100 advantage.

Natasha Howard

Howard finished with 13 points, three rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and four turnovers. She shot 5 of 11 from the floor and made 3 of 4 free throws.

Her seven assists gave Minnesota another reliable passer alongside Miles. Howard also supplied defensive activity with two steals.

Courtney Williams

Williams posted eight points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals, and four personal fouls. She made 3 of 7 field-goal attempts and 2 of 2 free throws.

Her seven rebounds were the second-highest total among Minnesota’s starters. She also made a late defensive play when she stole the ball from Phoenix during the final sequence.

Nia Coffey

Coffey scored five points, grabbed three rebounds, recorded two blocks and one steal, and made 2 of 4 field goals. She also converted one of three attempts from beyond the arc.

Her scoring was modest, but her defensive work helped Minnesota finish with four blocks against a Phoenix team that had no blocks.

Minnesota Bench

Minnesota’s reserves did not produce a large share of the scoring. Eliska Hamzova led the bench with eight points in nine minutes, shooting 3 of 5 from the field. Maya Caldwell, Anastasiia Olairi Kosu, and Antonia Delaere also saw action.

The starters therefore carried most of the offensive responsibility, particularly McBride and Miles.

Phoenix Mercury Player Stats

Phoenix had several strong individual performances, led by Kahleah Copper and Alyssa Thomas.

Kahleah Copper

Copper led Phoenix with 26 points. She made 9 of 21 field-goal attempts, including 2 of 7 from three-point range, and converted 10 of 13 free throws.

Her scoring kept Phoenix within reach throughout the game. The Mercury’s offense generated 100 points and shot 55.6% from the field, so Copper’s production came within a highly efficient team performance.

Alyssa Thomas

Thomas finished with 19 points, eight rebounds, 12 assists, and one steal. She shot 8 of 14 from the field.

The 12 assists were the highest total by either team. Thomas also helped Phoenix finish with 28 team assists, eight more than Minnesota.

Her performance showed how much Phoenix could create through passing even while facing a strong Lynx defense.

DeWanna Bonner

Bonner contributed 17 points, nine rebounds, and three assists. Her nine rebounds were the highest total for Phoenix.

She also gave Phoenix another scoring option alongside Copper and Thomas.

Other Phoenix Contributors

Phoenix’s starting group did most of the offensive work. The Mercury finished with 35 made field goals, compared with 34 for Minnesota. Their 11 three-pointers also came at a better rate than Minnesota’s, with Phoenix shooting 44.0% from deep.

The main issue was that strong offensive numbers did not translate into enough stops during the final quarter.

How the Game Changed Quarter by Quarter

First Quarter: Phoenix Takes the Early Lead

Phoenix opened the game with a 27-21 advantage.

The Mercury shot well and moved the ball effectively. Minnesota faced an early six-point deficit and needed to improve its defensive pressure.

Second Quarter: Minnesota Responds

The Lynx answered with a 29-22 second quarter.

That cut Phoenix’s lead and sent the game into halftime with Minnesota trailing by only one point. The match was already showing the back-and-forth pattern that continued through the second half.

Third Quarter: Phoenix Regains Control

Phoenix won the third quarter 26-19.

That pushed the Mercury’s advantage to seven points entering the final period. At that stage, Phoenix appeared to have regained control.

Fourth Quarter: Minnesota Finishes Strong

The final quarter changed everything.

Minnesota scored 35 points while Phoenix managed 25. The Lynx erased the deficit and moved in front during the closing possessions.

McBride’s three-pointer gave Minnesota a 101-98 lead with 45.1 seconds remaining. Miles then assisted Howard on a layup, and Minnesota protected the lead at the free throw line.

The Numbers Behind Minnesota’s Win

The box score presents an interesting result because Phoenix led several statistical categories.

Phoenix had:

• 31 rebounds compared with Minnesota’s 28
• 28 assists compared with Minnesota’s 20
• 44.0% three-point shooting compared with Minnesota’s 41.4%
• 35 made field goals compared with Minnesota’s 34

Minnesota had:

• 12 turnovers compared with Phoenix’s 14
• 9 steals compared with Phoenix’s 5
• 4 blocks compared with Phoenix’s 0
• 92.3% free throw shooting compared with Phoenix’s 90.5%

The biggest difference came late. Minnesota turned defensive activity into extra opportunities and then converted its free throws when Phoenix had little time left to respond.

McBride and Miles Made WNBA History

The most memorable part of the game was the scoring combination of McBride and Miles.

McBride scored 37 points. Miles added 33. They became the first duo in Lynx history to each score at least 30 points in the same game.

Miles’ performance was also notable because she was a rookie. Her 33 points represented the highest scoring total by a rookie in Lynx franchise history, according to Minnesota’s postgame notes.

The two guards also gave Minnesota different ways to attack. McBride supplied high-volume perimeter scoring, while Miles combined scoring with eight assists.

That combination proved difficult for Phoenix to contain during the fourth quarter.

Phoenix Had the Better Passing Numbers

One of the most interesting parts of the Phoenix Mercury vs Minnesota Lynx match player stats was the assist gap.

Phoenix recorded 28 assists. Minnesota had 20.

Alyssa Thomas led the way with 12 assists, showing how effectively Phoenix moved the ball. Yet the Mercury still lost despite creating eight more assisted baskets than Minnesota.

That result is a good reminder that assist totals do not tell the entire story. Phoenix moved the ball well, but Minnesota produced more steals and blocks and committed fewer turnovers.

Minnesota’s Free Throw Advantage Mattered

Free throws were another small but important difference.

Minnesota made 24 of 26 attempts. Phoenix made 19 of 21.

Both teams shot above 90%, but Minnesota attempted five more free throws and made five more. Those extra points mattered in a four-point game.

McBride was perfect from the line at 9 of 9, while Miles went 8 of 9.

When a game is decided by four points, free throw volume and accuracy deserve close attention.

Minnesota’s Defense Came Through Late

The Lynx finished with nine steals and four blocks. Phoenix recorded five steals and no blocks.

McBride accounted for four of Minnesota’s steals and two blocks. Howard and Williams each added two steals, while Coffey recorded two blocks.

Phoenix still scored 100 points, so this was not a defensive shutdown. The difference was more about producing enough stops at the right time.

Minnesota’s fourth-quarter defense helped turn a seven-point deficit into a four-point win.

What the Match Stats Tell Us

The Minnesota Lynx vs Phoenix Mercury stats show two teams that were closely matched offensively.

Both shot about 55% from the field. Phoenix had more assists and rebounds. Phoenix also shot better from three-point range.

Minnesota won through a different combination of factors. McBride and Miles produced 70 points, the defense created five more steals than Phoenix, the Lynx blocked four shots, and the team gave away two fewer possessions through turnovers.

The fourth quarter brought those small differences together.

Minnesota entered the final period down seven and finished the game ahead by four. That 11-point swing shows how quickly a WNBA game can change when shooting, defense, ball security, and late-game execution come together.

Minnesota Lynx vs Phoenix Mercury Player Leaders

Final Takeaway

The Minnesota Lynx won 104-100, but the final score does not fully describe how close the game was.

Phoenix had a strong offensive night. The Mercury shot 55.6% from the field, made 44% of their three-point attempts, collected 31 rebounds, and produced 28 assists. Minnesota still found a way to win because its two leading scorers delivered at a high level and the team became more effective on defense during the closing minutes.

McBride’s 37 points and Miles’ 33-point, eight-assist performance were the headline numbers. Thomas’ 12 assists and Copper’s 26 points showed why Phoenix stayed in the contest.

For anyone checking the Minnesota Lynx vs Phoenix Mercury match player stats, the clearest takeaway is simple: Phoenix won several traditional box-score categories, but Minnesota won the possessions that mattered most.

FAQ

What was the final score between the Minnesota Lynx and Phoenix Mercury?

The Minnesota Lynx defeated the Phoenix Mercury 104-100 on July 13, 2026, at Target Center in Minneapolis.

Who scored the most points for the Minnesota Lynx?

Kayla McBride led all scorers with 37 points. She also had six rebounds, four steals, two blocks, and one assist.

How many points did Olivia Miles score?

Olivia Miles scored 33 points and added eight assists and three rebounds. The 33 points were a career high at the time.

Who led the Phoenix Mercury in scoring?

Kahleah Copper led Phoenix with 26 points. She shot 9 of 21 from the field and made 10 of 13 free throws.

Who had the most assists in the game?

Alyssa Thomas led both teams with 12 assists. She also recorded 19 points and eight rebounds.

Which team shot better from three-point range?

Phoenix shot better from three-point range. The Mercury made 11 of 25 attempts for 44.0%, while Minnesota made 12 of 29 for 41.4%.

Which team had more rebounds?

Phoenix had 31 total rebounds, while Minnesota finished with 28.

Why did Minnesota Lynx win the game?

Minnesota finished strongly in the fourth quarter, outscoring Phoenix 35-25. The Lynx also had fewer turnovers, more steals and blocks, and a slightly better free throw percentage.

How many times did the lead change?

The game had 23 lead changes and 13 ties, showing how closely contested the matchup was.