Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve praised Natisha Hiedeman’s crucial contribution after their narrow win over the Phoenix Mercury.
Hiedeman’s decisive 3-pointer with just 5.1 seconds left secured a 74-71 victory, maintaining the Lynx’s unbeaten streak. This marked their sixth consecutive win this season, with Hiedeman scoring all nine of her points in the final quarter.
Despite trailing by five points at the end of the third quarter, the Lynx managed to avoid their first loss of the season. The turning point came when Kayla McBride intercepted a pass and handed it to Courtney Williams, who then found Hiedeman for the game-winning shot. “I got the ball, dribbled up to the three-point line, and passed [Courtney Williams] the ball,” said Hiedeman. “She passed it back to me. I’m sitting there, thinking in my head, ‘This for game right here. I got to knock this down.’ And that’s what I did. And that’s the game.”
Star player Napheesa Collier was sidelined due to knee soreness from an ongoing issue since 2023. Despite her absence, Minnesota managed to restrict Phoenix to just 6-for-21 shooting in the last quarter. McBride commented on their resilience: “We didn’t have our best player on the floor, so things were a little funky. They made it hard for us, sped us up. We just kept plugging away. That’s what good teams do.”
Alanna Smith contributed significantly with 19 points, while Williams added 11 points along with seven assists and seven rebounds. Smith expressed confidence in Hiedeman’s ability to deliver under pressure: “We have a lot of confidence in people stepping up,” she said about Hiedeman’s performance. “She’s done it twice now, hitting massive game-winning threes.”
Reeve highlighted Hiedeman’s determination this season: “She came back to us this year on a mission to really impact the team,” Reeve stated about Hiedeman’s influence on their success. “She’s helped us more than once when we really needed her.” The team’s strategy involved maintaining composure and capitalising on key moments despite missing Collier.
The Lynx’s ability to adapt without their star player was evident as they focused on defensive strength and teamwork to secure victory against Phoenix Mercury.