Minnesota Lynx vs Golden State Valkyries Player Stats and Box Score for Sep. 17 | Game 2, 2025 WNBA Playoffs

The Minnesota Lynx and Golden State Valkyries clashed in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series at the SAP Center in San Jose on Wednesday. The Valkyries entered the contest facing elimination, while the Lynx were just one win away from advancing after a dominant Game 1 victory.

In terms of starting lineups, Minnesota stuck with its usual five of Napheesa Collier, Bridget Carleton, Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride and Alanna Smith. Golden State, meanwhile, was forced to make a change as Temi Fagbenle was sidelined with a right knee injury. Iliana Rupert stepped in alongside Janelle Salaun, Cecilia Zandalasini, Kaila Charles and Veronica Burton.

The game opened with both sides battling hard and refusing to give an inch. Late in the first quarter, however, the Valkyries began to separate themselves, thanks to balanced scoring from everyone on the floor. Fueled by the energy of their home crowd, Natalie Nakase’s squad closed the opening period with a 27-19 lead.

The Valkyries kept their foot on the gas in the second quarter and didn’t give the Lynx even the slightest opening to stage a comeback. The highlight was Golden State’s defense, as they held Napheesa Collier and company to just nine points in the period and took a commanding 41-28 lead into halftime.

The Minnesota Lynx threw everything they had at the Valkyries, but the home team held firm. Just as the Lynx began chipping away at the deficit, Golden State responded with a clutch 3-point play to close the quarter, stretching their lead to 63-49 heading into the fourth.

The game turned on its head in the final quarter as the Lynx showed why they were the best team all season. Collier led the charge as Minnesota roared back, making clutch play after clutch play under pressure to seal a 75-74 win.

Cheryl Reeve’s team dominated the final quarter 26-11 and stormed into the next round, making a resounding statement with a come-from-behind victory.

Minnesota Lynx vs Golden State Valkyries Player Stats and Box Score (Sep. 17)

Minnesota Lynx

Player	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	FGM	FGA	FG%	3 PM	3PA	3P%	FTM	FTA	FT%	OREB	DREB	TOV	STL	BLK	PF	Plus/Minus
Bridget Carleton	22:20	12	2	1	4	7	57.1	4	6	66.7	0	0	-	1	1	0	0	0	4	10
Napheesa Collier	38:36	24	7	4	10	16	62.5	1	5	20	3	7	42.9	3	4	3	1	0	3	2
Alanna Smith	18:54	2	1	0	1	4	25	0	2	0	0	0	-	1	0	1	1	3	3	1
Kayla McBride	38:13	18	4	3	8	13	61.5	1	3	33.3	1	1	100	0	4	0	2	0	2	5
Courtney Williams	27:46	6	5	7	3	9	33.3	0	4	0	0	0	-	0	5	4	0	0	1	-10
Natisha Hiedeman	21:29	2	2	7	1	5	20	0	2	0	0	0	-	0	2	2	2	1	1	1
Jessica Shepard	18:37	0	6	0	0	4	0	0	1	0	0	0	-	1	5	1	0	0	0	-6
DiJonai Carrington	14:05	11	2	0	4	9	44.4	2	5	40	1	2	50	1	1	1	0	1	2	2
Maria Kliundikova	0:00	0	0	0	0	0	-	0	0	-	0	0	-	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Anastasiia Olairi Kosu	0:00	0	0	0	0	0	-	0	0	-	0	0	-	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Jaylyn Sherrod	0:00	0	0	0	0	0	-	0	0	-	0	0	-	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Camryn Taylor	0:00	0	0	0	0	0	-	0	0	-	0	0	-	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Golden State Valkyries

Player	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	FGM	FGA	FG%	3 PM	3PA	3P%	FTM	FTA	FT%	OREB	DREB	TOV	STL	BLK	PF	Plus/Minus
Janelle Salaün	33:44	14	4	1	4	7	57.1	2	4	50	4	5	80	0	4	0	0	0	2	3
Cecilia Zandalasini	32:04	14	5	3	6	16	37.5	2	4	50	0	1	0	1	4	4	1	0	3	3
Iliana Rupert	31:52	8	2	5	3	5	60	2	4	50	0	0	-	0	2	4	0	1	2	0
Kaila Charles	27:34	5	4	3	2	6	33.3	1	1	100	0	0	-	3	1	0	2	1	1	-17
Veronica Burton	35:23	13	6	9	4	12	33.3	3	6	50	2	2	100	0	6	3	4	1	4	5
Monique Billings	25:20	15	4	0	7	12	58.3	0	0	-	1	1	100	2	2	0	1	1	2	2
Kate Martin	5:52	5	1	0	2	3	66.7	1	2	50	0	0	-	0	1	0	0	0	0	8
Carla Leite	8:12	0	2	1	0	3	0	0	1	0	0	0	-	0	2	1	0	0	0	-9
Laeticia Amihere	0:00	0	0	0	0	0	-	0	0	-	0	0	-	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Kaitlyn Chen	0:00	0	0	0	0	0	-	0	0	-	0	0	-	0	0	0	0	0	0	0