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On-🔥 Alanna Smith shoots 83% from the field
Australian Opals and Minnesota Lynx star Alanna Smith. Photo: Ellen Schmidt/Getty Images
Highlights
Australian Alanna Smith red hot from the field in unbeaten Minnesota Lynx eighth straight win
- Australian Opals star Alanna Smith powered the Lynx to their 8th win to start the 2025 WNBAÂ season
- Sami Whitcomb finished with six points in 23 minutes
- How to watch every 2025 WNBAÂ game in Australia
Australian Opals centre Alanna Smith was near perfect from the field as the Minnesota Lynx (8-0) crushed the Phoenix Mercury (5-3) 88-65 at Target Center in Minnesota on Wednesday June 4, 2025.
Smith went 5-from-6 from the field including 3-from-4 threes on her way to 13 points and a monster +31 in 25 minutes. Smith also had three rebounds, six assists and three blocks against Opals teammate and Mercury point guard Sami Whitcomb.
Whitcomb, 37, finished with six points on 3-from-7 from the field in 23 minutes.
Key Details
- Result: Minnesota Lynx 88 def. Phoenix Mercury 65
- When: June 4, 2025
- Where: Target Center, MN, USA
- Standings: Lynx (8-0) | Mercury (5-3)
By the Numbers
- Napheesa Collier (Lynx) starred with 18 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and one steal in 31 minutes.
- Kahleah Copper (Mercury) scored 16 points, had one rebound, three assists, three steals and one block in 29 minutes.
What Happened
The Phoenix Mercury started strong, taking a 23-19 lead after the first quarter behind Copper's hot shooting. However, the game changed dramatically in the second period when Minnesota outscored Phoenix 25-12, establishing a 44-35 halftime advantage and seizing control of the contest.
Minnesota's dominance continued after the break, with the Lynx extending their lead to 19 points by outscoring the Mercury 23-14 in the third quarter. Their balanced attack proved too much for Phoenix, as the Lynx maintained their advantage throughout the final period, outscoring the visitors 21-16 to secure the 23-point victory.
With just over six minutes remaining in the second quarter, Alanna Smith hit a crucial three-pointer for Minnesota, sparking a 15-4 run that turned a close game into a comfortable lead. Smith finished with an efficient 13 points on 5-from-6 shooting, including 3-from-4 from beyond the arc, while adding six assists and three blocks in a stellar two-way performance.
The Lynx demonstrated exceptional efficiency on offense, shooting 58.6 percent (34-from-58) from the field and 48 percent (12-from-25) from three-point range. In contrast, Phoenix struggled mightily with their shooting, connecting on just 38.4 percent (28-from-73) overall and a dismal 16.7 percent (5-from-30) from beyond the arc.
With this victory, Minnesota improved to a perfect 8-0 record, solidifying their position atop the WNBA standings, while Phoenix fell to 5-3. The Lynx's undefeated home record (4-0) continues to make Target Center one of the most formidable venues in the league, while the Mercury will need to regroup after their second consecutive road loss.
