The Phoenix Mercury pulled off an improbable Game 2 comeback in the best-of-five series, rallying from a 20-point deficit to beat the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday in Minneapolis.
Just five days ago, the Mercury eliminated the defending champion New York Liberty on their home court in a decisive Game 3, advancing to their first semifinals since 2021.
Although Phoenix ran out of gas in its Game 1 loss to Minnesota, the team never gave up and went on to capture one of the most impressive wins in franchise history.
Mercury Pulls Off Largest Comeback in Franchise History
With 5:45 remaining in the third quarter, the Mercury trailed the Lynx by 20 points after forward Napheesa Collier made a 3-pointer to extend the lead. Phoenix was minutes away from heading home, facing a 0-2 series deficit. Instead, they return to Phoenix with the series tied.
Thanks to their contributions on both ends of the court and from the bench, the Mercury outscored the Lynx, 57-35, in the second half.
“I think it’s just pride and toughness,” Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said postgame. “Grit. I couldn’t be more proud of our group for doing that. I believe this is our fourth game in seven nights, and so I was a little worried going into the game, but boy, they really responded in the second half. We just kept fighting.”
The Mercury’s comeback ranks as the third-largest in WNBA postseason history, the biggest on the road, and the furthest into a game that a team trailed by 20 or more points and still won.
It also marks Phoenix’s largest comeback ever in franchise history and their first playoff win over Minnesota since 2014.
Sami Whitcomb Forces OT With Clutch 3-Pointer
The moment Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb made a 3-pointer on her second attempt to tie the game and force overtime, Tibbetts was proud of what he saw from Phoenix in the second half.
Whitcomb brings championship pedigree to the Mercury, having won two titles with the Seattle Storm teams that featured Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart, and Jewell Loyd.
“That one was completely on me. (Sami Whitcomb) saved my ass,” Tibbetts said postgame. “That’s what great players, shooters do.”
Whitcomb finished the game with 13 points, three 3-pointers, four rebounds, and six assists in 33 minutes during the Mercury’s crucial win. She is known as the energizer off the bench for Phoenix.
Take another look at the Sami Whitcomb three that tied the game and sent us into OT 🚨 pic.twitter.com/5sDALX0la4
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 24, 2025
Kathryn Westbeld Sparks Mercury’s Third-Quarter Comeback
When forward Kathryn Westbeld checked back in for the Mercury in the third quarter, she made an impact on both ends of the court, scoring eight points, including two 3-pointers, to cut Phoenix’s lead to single digits.
Westbeld also recorded a team-high four steals and was a key contributor to the Mercury’s impressive comeback. Phoenix outscored Minnesota 25-3 in bench points, which was crucial to their victory.
“Kathryn (Westbeld) was huge for us,” Whitcomb said. “Kat came in and gave us incredible minutes. She had huge shots, and I feel like that really we all lifted defensively. We got stops. At one point, we cut it with her on the floor. We cut (the lead) to about six or eight, and that, to me, was the moment where it was like, ‘All right, like this, like we’re on here. We’ve got this.’ So Kat was a huge part of (contributing to the Mercury’s comeback win).”
Throughout her career, Westbeld was a key contributor to Notre Dame’s 2018 national championship. The Fighting Irish team included notable WNBA players such as Arike Ogunbowale, Jackie Young, and Marina Mabrey.
After attending the Los Angeles Sparks’ training camp and being waived in 2018, Westbeld went on to play overseas. That experience helped her reach her current position in the WNBA, where she both started and came off the bench in her first year with the Phoenix Mercury.
“I mean, she is someone that is in the gym, doing the extra stuff as well, and she watches film,” Whitcomb said. “She’s fantastic at seeking feedback, and really like implementing it as well. But she’s just someone that’s really locked in and ready to go. She understands, I think, the importance of her minutes in her role, even though it might have it might be a little bit smaller than it was early in the season.
“I think she really values the impact that she can bring. And obviously, we value that. So I think she’s just done a great job, I think as the season has gone on, and adapting to whatever that role looks like, and being really impactful.”
Kathryn Westbeld was a big part of the Mercury comeback last night, leading the team with +2.8 offensive net points and +4.6 defensive net points.https://t.co/exbz21A2uo pic.twitter.com/PZFtKvgFeL
— Dean Oliver (@DeanO_Lytics) September 24, 2025
Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally Make History for the Mercury
Mercury forward Satou Sabally bounced back from a tough Game 1, in which the Lynx’s defense limited her to 10 points on 3-for-11 shooting.
In Game 2, she scored 24 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and recorded an assist on Whitcomb’s huge 3-pointer in the final seconds of the fourth quarter.
“I felt that way at halftime once (Tibbetts) really gave us some heat. We’re confident, we’re confident in us,” Sabally said. “We’ve been battling all season long, so you can’t give up a basketball game if you’re down, whatever. I believed at halftime, and that’s what we did.”
Tibbetts continues to emphasize the importance of forward Alyssa Thomas’ leadership and her will to win since the start of the season.
THE ENGINE KEEPS RUNNING 🚂
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 24, 2025
Alyssa Thomas dished out a @PhoenixMercury franchise Playoff record 13 assists in tonight’s win. She also recorded the 27th double-double of her postseason career, tying Candace Parker and Tamika Catchings for the most in WNBA Playoff history.
19 PTS… pic.twitter.com/IDxkakhCfq
In overtime, Thomas sealed the Mercury’s comeback by scoring seven points and making crucial defensive stops. She finished the game with 19 points, eight rebounds, and 13 assists for Phoenix.
“She’s the ultimate competitor,” Tibbetts said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever been around anyone quite like her in my whole life, and I grew up in the gym. My dad was a high school coach. I’ve been around a lot of players, and I’ve never seen anyone who wants to win as badly as she does. I’m just absolutely blown away by her toughness and grit, and I’m just blessed to coach her every day.”
Thomas’ Passion For Winning Stemmed from Childhood
Throughout the regular season, Thomas delivered a historic performance, recording eight triple-doubles and leading the Mercury in their first year without franchise cornerstones Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner. She is no stranger to the postseason and has successfully carried that experience over to the Valley.
She is known for winning at all levels, but Thomas shared how her passion for winning truly began in childhood.
“It all started with my parents as a kid,” Thomas said. “Any win that we had, whether it was Trouble or Candy Land, we had to earn our win. So for me, when I would get a win against them, it was exciting, but this is what it’s all about. We play the whole season for playoffs and moments like this. It’s definitely a moment that we’ll never forget. And for me, I want to win. I’ve been chasing a championship for a long time, and this is our time.”
Sabally and Thomas also made league history, becoming the third pair of teammates to each average 15 or more points, eight or more rebounds, two or more assists, and one or more steals in the same postseason. They join Thomas and DeWanna Bonner (2020 and 2023 for the Connecticut Sun) and Nneka Ogwumike and Candace Parker (2016 for the Los Angeles Sparks).
The Phoenix Mercury will host the Minnesota Lynx for Games 3 and 4 at PHX Arena as the best-of-five series moves to Phoenix, starting on Friday at 6:30 p.m. PT on ESPN2.
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