Postgame Notes: MIN vs GSV (9.14.25)
Published on September 14, 2025 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Minnesota Lynx News Release
MINNESOTA LYNX (1-0) 101, GOLDEN STATE VALKYRIES (0-1) 72
September 14, 2025
Lynx notes
Player Notes
Napheesa Collier posted a game-high 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting (63.6%) from the floor, including one from deep, and a perfect 5-of-5 from the line. Collier added six rebounds (one offensive), two assists and a steal, marking her 13th career-postseason game tallying 20+ points and five+ rebounds.
Kayla McBride registered 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting (60.0%) from the field, notching three from deep, while also adding three rebounds, one assist and ah steal. Since her first postseason appearance in 2014, McBride has now scored 15+ points, two+ three-point field goals, and two+ rebounds in 14 postseason games.
In 26:19 minutes off the bench of her 50th career playoff appearance, Natisha Hiedeman recorded a postseason career-high 18 points on 7-of-13 (53.8%) shooting from the floor. Hiedeman added three rebounds, four assists and a steal on the night, marking her 12th career playoff game scoring double figures.
In 17:11 minutes off the bench, Jessica Shepard made her postseason debut, scoring 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting (57.1%) from the floor, including a perfect 4-of-4 from the line, and adding a game-high eight rebounds (four offensive), four assists and a steal.
Courtney WIlliams filed the stat sheet today, recording 11 points, four rebounds, four assists, four steals and a block. Williams' four steals tied her playoff career-high, she matched the same amount from last year's first round matchup against the Mercury.
Team Notes
Minnesota's 29-point margin of victory is the largest postseason win in franchise history.
Today marked Cheryl Reeve's 414th regular season + playoff win, placing her first all-time in the category:
Cheryl Reeve - 414
Mike Thibault - 413
Bill Laimbeer - 343
Brian Agler - 311
Sandy Brondello - 310
Minnesota outscored Golden State points in the paint, 44-18 throughout the contest, also keeping the Valkyries to just 20-of-59 (33.9%) from the field.
Today's contest marked Minnesota's fourth highest-scoring playoff game in franchise history:
Sept. 28, 2016 vs. PHX - 113
Sept. 25, 2011 vs. PHX - 103
Sept. 22, 2024 vs. PHX - 102
Oct. 5, 2011 vs. ATL - 101
Sept. 12, 2017 - 101
Sept. 25, 2024 vs PHX - 101
Sept. 14, 2025 vs GSV - 101
Throughout the final three quarters, the Valkyries shot 11-of-41 (26.8%) from the floor, while the Lynx shot 27-of-48 (56.3%) from the field.
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from September 14, 2025
- Postgame Notes: NYL 76, PHO 69 - New York Liberty
- Game Notes: Atlanta Dream 80, Indiana Fever 68 - Atlanta Dream
- Resilient Fever Face More Adversity, But Now Get to Host Playoff Game - Indiana Fever
- Fever Drop Game 1 on Sunday in Atlanta - Indiana Fever
- Postgame Notes: MIN vs GSV (9.14.25) - Minnesota Lynx
- First Round, Game 1: Golden State Valkyries at Minnesota Lynx - Postgame Notes - Golden State Valkyries
- Valkyries Unable to Sustain Early Momentum, Suffer 29-Point Defeat to Lynx in Playoff Debut - Golden State Valkyries
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