Lynx Set Franchise Record with 34th Win, Defeat Valkyries 72-53

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Natisha Hiedeman scored 21 points and Napheesa Collier added 19 as the Minnesota Lynx cruised past the Golden State Valkyries 72-53 on Thursday night, setting a franchise record with their 34th win of the season.

Already having clinched the No. 1 seed and home-court advantage in the playoffs, the Lynx (34-10) tied the 2023 Las Vegas Aces for the most regular-season wins in WNBA history.

Golden State (23-21) fell to the No. 8 seed and will face Minnesota again on Sunday to kick off their best-of-three first-round playoff series.

Collier capped a stellar regular season by becoming just the second player in WNBA history — joining Elena Delle Donne (2019) — to achieve a 50/40/90 shooting season, finishing with 53% from the field, 40.3% from three, and 91% from the free-throw line.

Jessica Shepard chipped in with 11 points and 14 rebounds for Minnesota. Golden State was led by Iliana Rupert, Veronica Burton, Kaila Charles, and Cecilia Zandalasini, who each scored eight points. The Valkyries were without DiJonai Carrington for the fourth straight game due to a shoulder injury.

Minnesota took control early, leading 17-8 after the first quarter as Golden State shot just 22.2% from the field and missed all seven of its three-point attempts. The Lynx extended their lead to 34-22 at halftime behind 12 first-half points from Collier.

Golden State missed its first 17 three-point attempts before Rupert knocked down two in a row late in the third, trimming the deficit to 45-41. But Minnesota responded with a 12-0 run to open the fourth, sparked by Hiedeman’s fast-break layup and nine quick points in the first three minutes of the quarter to seal the win.