The Minnesota Lynx pulled off a thrilling 88-84 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night, thanks to a clutch late-game performance that had fans on the edge of their seats. With the game hanging in the balance, veteran forward Nia Coffey sank a wide-open 3-pointer with just 25.6 seconds remaining, giving the Lynx an 87-83 lead—a shot that proved to be the dagger.

That pivotal moment was set up by rookie Olivia Miles, who showcased her poise under pressure with a crisp drive and pass to find Coffey in the corner. Coffey's third triple of the night capped off a stellar double-double performance, as she finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Miles wasn't done there: after a missed 3-pointer by the Mercury, she grabbed the crucial rebound and calmly knocked down one of two free throws with 13.2 seconds left to seal the win.

Natasha Howard anchored the Lynx with a double-double of her own, tallying 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Kayla McBride also contributed 14 points. Courtney Williams and Emma Cechova added 11 points apiece, providing the balanced scoring that kept Minnesota in control down the stretch. Miles stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, six rebounds, and seven assists, showing why she's a rising star in the league.

For the Mercury, Kahleah Copper was a force to be reckoned with, dropping a game-high 30 points on 9-of-21 shooting and 10-of-13 from the free-throw line. DeWanna Bonner added 16 points, and Alyssa Thomas chipped in 10 points and eight assists. Natasha Mack flirted with a double-double, grabbing 10 rebounds to go with nine points.

Phoenix came out strong in the first half, with Copper scoring 13 and Bonner adding 12 to build a 45-41 lead. The Mercury connected on seven 3-pointers in the opening two quarters, but their long-range shooting went cold in the second half—they managed just two triples after the break. Free-throw shooting also proved costly, as the team finished 23 of 33 (70%) from the charity stripe.

This win is especially impressive for the Lynx, who are navigating the early season without star forward Napheesa Collier. The runner-up in last year's MVP voting is sidelined until at least early June after undergoing ankle surgery in March—her second procedure on the same ankle in just a few months. Minnesota's depth and resilience were on full display as they improved to 1-1, while the Mercury dropped to 1-2.