The Minnesota Lynx are one victory away from reaching the second round of the playoffs after a 102-95 win over the Phoenix Mercury in Game 1 of their best-of-three series on Sunday.
Napheesa Collier starred for the Lynx, scoring 38 points along with six rebounds and four assists, helping the team maintain their lead despite a significant scare after being up by as much as 23 points.
As the Mercury face elimination, speculation has arisen about whether Diana Taurasi might retire if her team is ousted. The legendary guard contributed 21 points, including five three-pointers, in the opening game.
Collier acknowledged the potential for Taurasi’s retirement, saying, “It seems like it’s her retirement tour… She’s obviously a UConn great, a league GOAT, so I feel lucky to have been able to play with her on Team USA and against her. Hopefully, we can end her career on Wednesday.”
Though Collier has a history with Taurasi from their time at Connecticut, her focus remains on overcoming the Mercury to pursue a championship.
Taurasi, at 42, is a three-time champion and the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer, but she has made it clear that she does not want a farewell tour. Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts confirmed that they have not discussed the possibility of Taurasi’s retirement.
