MINNEAPOLIS — Kayla McBride scored 23 points, Napheesa Collier and Dorka Juhasz added double-doubles and the Minnesota Lynx clinched a spot in the playoffs by handing Phoenix its eighth straight loss with an 86-73 victory over the Mercury on Sunday.
The Lynx are currently the No. 5 seed and have an outside shot to catch the Dallas Wings and earn the home-court advantage in the first round.
Minnesota started the season 0-6 but avoided missing the playoffs for the second straight season. The Lynx are only the second team ever to lose at least its first six games and still make the postseason.
Los Angeles also did it in 2015 after starting 0-7. McBride sank 9 of 20 shots with two 3-pointers for Minnesota (19-19). Collier finished with 22 points, 16 rebounds and five assists for her 11th double-double of the season.