Napheesa Collier's double-double helps Lynx extinguish Sun, advance to WNBA Finals

Napheesa Collier had 27 points and 11 rebounds and Courtney Williams contributed 24 points and both-ends-of-the-court energy to lead the Minnesota Lynx past the Connecticut Sun 88-77 and into the WNBA Finals for the first time in seven years on Tuesday night.

Kayla McBride fuelled a strong start with 10 of her 19 points in the first quarter for the Lynx, who advanced to face the top-seeded New York Liberty in Game 1 on Thursday night. The best-of-five series continues with Game 2 in New York on Sunday afternoon, before Minnesota hosts Game 3 on Oct. 16.

Bridget Carleton of Chatham, Ont., played 30 minutes, recording 2 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists.

The Lynx, who finished second in the league and two games behind the Liberty during the regular season, have won three of four matchups with New York this year. That includes the WNBA Commissioner's Cup on June 25 to take the in-season tournament title.

WATCH | Canada's Carleton advances to WNBA Finals with Minnesota Lynx:

DiJonai Carrington had 17 points and 12 rebounds and Brionna Jones had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Sun, who shot only 38.5 per cent from the floor (25 for 65) and were flustered into 19 turnovers that the Lynx converted into 22 points.

"They just kind of punched us in the face, and we got shellshocked and then we couldn't fight back," said DeWanna Bonner, who had 14 points on 4-for-13 shooting.

The Sun were ousted in the semifinals for the fourth time in six years. They lost in the finals in those other two seasons, 2019 and 2022, when Williams was part of the core that still hasn't cleared that last hurdle to the franchise's first title.

The Lynx built a lead as large as 21 points in the second quarter, six more than their biggest of any of the