Lynx clinch WNBA's top seed on a night they lose big to Indiana
The short version
- Indiana beat Minnesota 96-77 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Tuesday.
- Despite the loss, the Lynx clinched the No. 1 seed and home-court advantage.
- Portland's 90-82 overtime win over Golden State sealed it; the Lynx hold the 3-1 head-to-head tiebreaker.
- Bridget Carleton scored a season-high 26 points for Portland.
- Minnesota closes the regular season Thursday against Indiana.
Minnesota fell 96-77 to the Fever but locked up the No. 1 seed when Portland beat Golden State in overtime.
The Indiana Fever handed the Minnesota Lynx a 96-77 defeat Tuesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, a game in which the Lynx once trailed by 29. A 30-point third quarter for Minnesota narrowed nothing meaningfully, and the club's record moved to 32-11, 8-4 away from home.
The loss came with a silver lining. ESPN's Alexa Philippou reported on X that the Lynx still wrapped up the No. 1 playoff seed and home-court advantage for the entire postseason because the Portland Fire beat the Golden State Valkyries in overtime, 90-82. Golden State dropped to 31-12, and even finishing level with Minnesota at 32-12 would not help, since the Lynx took the season series 3-1.
Portland's win was powered by Bridget Carleton, whose season-best 26 points led the Fire, with Carla Leite contributing 18 points, six assists and three boards. For Minnesota, Napheesa Collier managed only nine points and two rebounds against Indiana, and the Lynx starters sat for much of the second half.
Minnesota will open the playoffs against one of three possible opponents: Washington, Dallas or New York. The regular season closes Thursday, when the Lynx get another crack at the Fever and the Valkyries meet the Los Angeles Sparks.