The Minnesota Lynx still believe that they should have won the 2024 WNBA Finals against the New York Liberty. That controversial foul call near the end of regulation of Game 5 of that series, which led to Breanna Stewart’s game-tying free throws, still haunts the Lynx.

But on Thursday, Napheesa Collier and the Lynx got some measure of revenge, as they blasted New York at Target Center in Minnesota, 100-93. 

The Liberty were not at full strength, with Stewart sidelined by a bone bruise in her right knee and Nyara Sabally still absent with knee discomfort, but that shouldn’t take away from the greatness of Minnesota in the 2025 WNBA season. Minnesota is heads and shoulders above the rest of the league with a 23-5 record, five games better than the No. 2 team in the standings, as New York dropped to 17-9.

Collier torched the Liberty for 30 points on 11-for-16 shooting from the field while posting nine rebounds and three blocks. Kayla McBride put up 24 points to complement Collier, as she led Minnesota’s perimeter attack by draining five 3-pointers. As a team, the Lynx drained 15 triples.

The Lynx were ahead comfortably in the fourth, but a 15-point lead dwindled to four points after a scorching 11-0 run by New York. Fortunately for Minnesota, it managed to kill the Liberty’s momentum with a three-point play with under a minute left before holding on for the victory.

“No, they’re still a great basketball team,” said Collier in the postgame press conference when asked about New York’s late-game rally (via Andrew Dukowitz of Zone Coverage). “Yeah, they have great basketball players, ones that can make good shots. Sabrina went on a burner there at the end… so I don’t think it concerns us. I think more than anything, it’s good to show our resilience once again.”

The Lynx and the Liberty will cross paths three more times before the WNBA playoffs, as they are scheduled to face off on Aug. 11, 17, and 20.