The top two teams in the regular season set up a date in the WNBA Finals after the Minnesota Lynx eliminated the Connecticut Sun in their best-of-five semifinals.

The second-seeded Lynx will meet the top-seeded New York Liberty for the much-coveted title starting this Thursday.

The Lynx had to hurdle a gritty Sun crew in a do-or-die Game 5, 88-77, to advance to the championship round for the seventh time. They are gunning for their fifth crown.

Once again, star Napheesa Collier came up huge for the Lynx, collecting a game-high 27 points on top of 11 rebounds, four assists and four blocks.

After the win, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve sent a strong reminder to the entire league.

"She's improved every season, said Reeve in a report from the Associated Press. "She's just been incredible. Every game, it's more than scoring how she helps our team.

"When she plays like the MVP, we're tough to beat."

They, however, will likewise face tough opposition in the WNBA Finals. The Liberty have been nothing but dominant, eliminating the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces in four games in the semifinals and sweeping the Atlanta Dream in the first round.

Collier, the Defensive Player of the Year, will be matched up against fellow MVP contender Breanna Stewart, who's on a mission to avenge their finals defeat last season.

The Lynx have had the number of the Liberty this year, winning three of their four face-offs, including the title game in the WNBA Commissioner's Cup in June 2024.

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