Lynx Turn Footprint Center Into a Track Meet in Historic 34-Point Blowout
WNBA Commissioner’s Cup: The Desert Demolition
Lynx Turn Footprint Center Into a Track Meet in Historic 34-Point Blowout
If the Phoenix Mercury were looking to make a statement to kick off their WNBA Commissioner's Cup campaign on Monday night, they certainly made one. Unfortunately, that statement was: "We have absolutely no idea how to stop Courtney Williams."
The Minnesota Lynx (7-2) didn’t just defeat the Mercury (2-8) in their Cup opener—they systematically dismantled them in a 111-77 landslide. It was an offensive clinic of devastating proportions, fueled by a historic first-half barrage that left the Phoenix crowd checking their tickets to make sure they hadn't accidentally walked into a track and field event.
The Historical Avalanche
Minnesota didn't waste any time playing with their food. They exploded out of the gate for 35 first-quarter points, opened the second frame on an 11-4 run, and retreated to the locker room at halftime with a jaw-dropping 67-40 lead.
Let’s contextualize how absurd that first half was:
The Lynx shot a blistering 75% from the field (27 of 36) in the first 20 minutes.
Their 67-point explosion marked the third-most points in any half of a road game in WNBA history.
Phoenix spent the entire evening playing transition defense against a team that couldn't miss if they tried. By the time the third quarter wrapped at 88-56, the only remaining mystery in the desert was whether Minnesota would hit the 120-point mark.
Player Spotlight: A Masterclass and a Milestone
🎯 Courtney Williams: Pure Cinema
Courtney Williams was operating in absolute matrix mode. She cooked the Mercury defense for a season-high 30 points on an incredibly efficient 13-of-20 shooting. Williams set the tone early, drilling 8 of her first 10 shots in the first half for 19 points. Whenever Phoenix tried to establish even a sliver of defensive footing, Williams pulled up and shattered it.
👑 Olivia Miles: Walking History
While Williams provided the fireworks, rookie sensation Olivia Miles provided the masterclass in playmaking. Miles flirted with a double-double, dropping 19 points and dishing out 9 assists.
With this performance, Miles has now scored in double figures in all nine games to start her career. That ties the longest double-digit scoring streak by a rookie in Lynx franchise history—putting her name right alongside legends Seimone Augustus and Tonya Edwards. Keep your rookie of the year ballots close, because Miles is building a fortress around hers.
Inside the Box Score: Bench Mob and Desert Droughts
The bench production further underscored Minnesota’s current depth. Antonia Delaere stepped off the pine to chip in 13 points, while Anastasiia Olairi Kosu added 12. Veteran Natasha Howard was nearly perfect, contributing 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting to round out a completely balanced Lynx assault.
Conversely, the Mercury looked completely stuck in the desert sand. Kahleah Copper did everything she could to keep the ship afloat, leading Phoenix with 18 points, while Noemie Brochant (11 points) and Monique Akoa Makani (10 points) offered minor resistance.
Phoenix actually excelled at the charity stripe, hitting 23 of 27 free throws. Their issue? They couldn't buy a bucket when the clock was running, shooting a miserable 34% from the floor (22 of 64).
Up Next
Minnesota heads back home to Minneapolis on Thursday to launch a three-game homestand against the Golden State Valkyries, looking to parlay this +34 point differential into a fast track to the Cup Championship game.
Phoenix packs its bags for a grueling four-game road trip, starting Wednesday night in Seattle against a Storm team that is also desperate to find its offensive identity.
