Napheesa Collier led the Minnesota Lynx with 26 points and 11 rebounds, helping her team secure a 90-81 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Friday night in Uncasville, Connecticut, during Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals.

This win gave Minnesota a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-five series, setting the stage for a potential trip to the WNBA Finals as the teams prepare to face each other again in Game 4 on Sunday in Uncasville.

Collier shot 11-for-19 from the floor and was a key part of a Lynx offense that recorded a total of 22 assists. Courtney Williams added 16 points, dishing out eight assists, while Kayla McBride contributed 13 points and Bridget Carleton scored 12.

All five starters from Connecticut scored in double digits, with Brionna Jones leading the team with 21 points. DeWanna Bonner scored 16 points, and Marina Mabrey had 14 but struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on only 1 of 11 three-point attempts. Alyssa Thomas, a triple-double threat, recorded 13 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.

Minnesota outperformed Connecticut in shooting, hitting 57.4 percent of their shots compared to the Sun’s 41.1 percent.

Mabrey found her rhythm in the third quarter, scoring seven points in just over four minutes. However, her efforts were countered immediately when she fouled Carleton on a 3-point attempt, allowing Carleton to extend Minnesota’s lead with free throws, making it a 10-point game. Minnesota maintained a lead of at least eight points for the remainder of the third quarter, heading into the final period with a score of 68-54.

Bonner managed to make it 86-79 with a late and-one play, but Williams and Carleton answered back quickly with jumpers to secure Minnesota’s win.

Collier started aggressively, hitting 4 of 5 shots in the first quarter and scoring eight points, helping the Lynx to a 23-16 lead after the initial quarter.

After falling behind by nine points, Connecticut rallied to cut the deficit to 26-23 with a quick 6-0 run early in the second quarter.

However, the Lynx controlled the rest of the first half, extending their lead to as much as 14 points at 46-32 after Alanna Smith made one of two free throws, finishing a 20-9 run. Minnesota held a 48-36 lead at halftime.