Miles, Williams help WNBA-best Lynx
hold off Fever 108-100
[August 03, 2026]
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Rookie sensation Olivia Miles spearheaded an
efficient offense with 28 points, Courtney Williams added 27 points,
and the Minnesota Lynx won their 10th straight game with a 108-100
victory over the Indiana Fever on Sunday.
There was a rally outside the Target Center that pitted those
supporting Fever reserve Sophie Cunningham, who told ESPN last week
she believed trans athletes should not play against girls, against
those with the opposite feeling. Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve wore a
shirt that read, “Trans kids belong,” and had a pregame conversation
with Cunningham, who was booed throughout the game.
"Both of us understand that we have platforms and we both talked
about wanting to, more than anything, educate,” Reeve said after the
contest.
Minnesota had a 96-82 lead with 6:41 to play before the Fever, who
had scored 100 in a record six-straight games, pulled within 100-98
with more than 2 1/2 minutes to go. Miles and Williams both came up
with big baskets as the Lynx won their 10th straight for the first
time since 2016.
“First time playing each other, so there’s a bit of a feeling out
sort of thing," Reeve said. "And offense definitely had their way
with each of the teams’ defense. Certainly knew it probably wasn’t
going to be sustained, and it wasn’t. We were hoping at some point
our defense could be a separator.
“We felt like we had to really fight to win, and glad we glad we did
that. The next time we play them, each team is going to have a lot
more information.”
The league’s No. 1 offense definitely made life difficult for the
league’s No. 2 defense, but the Fever, who played in Portland on
Friday night, struggled to stop the Lynx on the offensive end. Both
teams shot 57% and both had 11 3-pointers and went 11 of 15 from the
foul line. They also combined for 55 assists. The big difference was
Indiana had 12 turnovers to six for Minnesota, which had an 11-5
edge in offensive rebounds and 9-0 advantage in fast-break points.
Napheesa Collier had 18 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for
the Lynx (25-6). Natasha Howard scored 13 points and Kayla McBride
10.
[to top of second column] |
Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams (10) celebrates with
teammates after making a basket during the second half of a WNBA
basketball game against the Indiana Fever, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, in
Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
The Fever (19-11), who had their five-game winning
streak halted, were led by Kelsey Mitchell with 37 points, her fifth
30-point game of the season and 14th straight 20-point game, second
in league history behind A'ja Wilson's 15-straight in a single
season. Caitlin Clark added 19 points and 10 assists and Aliyah
Boston had 15 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
“We were just a little bit of a step slow," Clark said of the
defense. “ Proud of our group for finding ways to adjust, and that’s
what you have to do versus a really good team.”
Both teams got off to a blistering start with Minnesota leading
36-32 after one quarter, tying the league record for most points in
an opening period. Mitchell had 16 points in the first period, but
Miles had 14 in the second and the Lynx led 64-53 at the break.
The crowd, listed as 16,505, certainly had plenty of Fever fans.
That's not a surprise given that Clark grew up in West Des Moines,
Iowa, which is about 3 1/2 hours away.
“It was weird hearing fans cheer when the other team scored,” Miles
said. “Both ways, there was cheering for baskets and it was just
loud in there. The energy, it's what you want as a basketball
player.”
Up next
Fever: Home against Las Vegas on Thursday.
Lynx: Home against Los Angeles on Thursday.
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
