McBride, Miles combine for 70 points in Lynx win
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- Minnesota Lynx beat the Phoenix Mercury 104-100 in Minneapolis on Monday, avenging last season's playoff elimination at Mercury's hands in a game that featured 23 lead changes and 13 ties.
- Kayla McBride scored 37 points and Olivia Miles added 33, combining for 70 — the first time in Lynx history two players scored 30-plus in the same game and just the fifth such duo performance in WNBA regulation.
- Miles became the first WNBA player ever — not just the first rookie — to reach 400 points, 100 rebounds, and 100 assists in 22 games, per coach Cheryl Reeve, who said the magnitude of the feat "shouldn't be understated."
- Miles scored 16 of her 33 in the fourth quarter, going 4-for-5 from the field and 3-for-4 from three with three assists to seal the win; McBride hit six 3-pointers and reached 30 points for the eighth time in her career.
- Napheesa Collier is expected to make her season debut soon after offseason ankle surgeries, and Reeve said the Lynx remain "led by" the former MVP candidate even as Miles shoulders the team during her absence.
- The Mercury have now lost four straight heading into the All-Star break, with 17-year veteran DeWanna Bonner calling Miles' rookie court IQ "unheard of."
Why it matters: The Lynx gained a measure of revenge against the Mercury, the team that eliminated them in last year's playoffs, and head into the All-Star break awaiting Napheesa Collier's expected season debut. The Mercury absorbed a fourth straight loss, while Miles' unprecedented 400-100-100 milestone through 22 games stands as a WNBA first regardless of experience level.
