MINNEAPOLIS — 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. The best-of-five series continues with Game 2 in New York on Sunday afternoon, before Minnesota hosts Game 3 on Oct. 16. Connecticut eliminated Minnesota here in the decisive Game 3 of the first round last season. Since winning Game 5 of the WNBA Finals in 2017 for their fourth championship in seven years, the Lynx were just 1-4 in winner-take-all games in the playoffs. Alyssa Thomas had a quiet seven points and six assists for the Sun, who trailed by double digits for all but 12 seconds of the final three quarters.

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Persons: Napheesa Collier, Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride, DiJonai Carrington, Brionna Jones, DeWanna Bonner, Williams, who’s, Alanna Smith swished, Bonner, Collier, Lindsay Whalen, Aaron Jones, Angie Craig, Sen, Tina Smith, Alyssa Thomas, Marina Mabrey Organizations: Minnesota Lynx, Connecticut Sun, WNBA, Lynx, New York Liberty, Minnesota, Liberty, New, Sun, Target Center, Hall of Fame, Minnesota Vikings, Phoenix Mercury, Connecticut Locations: MINNEAPOLIS, New York, Minnesota, Connecticut