Napheesa Collier simply took over Wednesday. The Lynx forward scored a career-high 42 points and tied a WNBA record for most points in a playoff game as Minnesota pulled away to beat Phoenix 101-88 and sweep the best-of-three first-round series. Combined with a 38-point scoring performance in Game 1, Collier is the first player in franchise history to have back-to-back games of at least 30 points in a single playoff. “I told the team before the game that Phee’s not going to get 38 points,” coach Cheryl Reeve said, before smiling. “We were right, she had 42.” Ever the unassuming superstar, Collier said it was about keeping things simple. “It’s not like I sit back and think about, ‘OK, I need to score this many points to break the record.’ I’ m just playing for my team, I’m trying to win a game, I’m trying to take advantage of what the defense is giving me. … At the end of the day that’s all that matters to me. That stuff is really cool, but if you’re not winning it Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier celebrates her three-point basket against the Phoenix Mercury in the fourth quarter of Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff game Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) doesn’t matter. All I’m focusing on is making it to the next round, playing our next game.” Second-seeded Minnesota will face No. 3 Connecticut in a best-of-five semifinal beginning at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Target Center, where the Lynx are 18-4 this season. The Sun won two of three meetings against the Lynx, although Minnesota won 78-76 last week in Connecticut. “We want to win every single game at Target Center in front of you guys,” Bridget Carleton said during a postgame in-arena interview. “We’re a good basketball team and we’re here to win a championship.” Collier, second in the league’s MVP voting, scored 23 points in the first half and then dominated at both ends of the court in the latter stages of the game. She scored on a drive early in the fourth quarter for a 79-66 lead. Five straight points by Collier, the final two coming after she stole a pass on defense and scored off a feed from Natisha Hiedeman, pushed the lead to 91-73 midway through the fourth. A Collier trey with 4:08 to play gave her 41 points and a free throw less than a minute later gave her 42. Angel McCoughtry in 2010 and Breanna Stewart in 2022 also have the WNBA record of 42 points in a playoff game. However, Collier’s 80 points over her last two games are the most points over any two-game stretch in WNBA playoff history. Minnesota shot 50.7%, had assists on 28 of 34 baskets and made 23 of 27 free throws. The game’s momentum may have turned on a physical play early in the third quarter. Making a steal and driving to the hoop on a fast break, Carleton landed nearly face first with a thud after she was basically tackled on a flagrant foul by Sophie Cunningham. Courtney Williams and Collier quickly rushed to their fallen teammate, with Williams assessed a technical foul as players from both sides were jawing at one another. Up by two after Carleton’s crash, the Lynx went on a 17-7 run, including 3-pointers from Alanna Smith and Kayla McBride, for a 72-60 lead late in the quarter. “We matched their physicality to the point where we were able to assert ourselves offensively as well,” Smith said. McBride finished with 15 points, Carleton and Smith each had a dozen and Williams scored 11 and added six assists. Diana Taurasi finished with 10 points for the Mercury in what could be the final game of an illustrious 20-year career. She left to a standing ovation with 2:34 to play after picking up her fifth foul. “One of the all-time great competitors in any sport,” Reeve said. “… The league’ll miss one of the all-time greatest competitors. Twenty years is a generation, so pretty incredible. So, congratulations.” Brittney Griner scored 24 points to lead five Phoenix players in double figures.