Lynx eliminated by Mercury in Game 4, Collier out and Reeve suspended

The Minnesota Lynx were eliminated from the WNBA playoffs Sunday, losing 86-81 to the Phoenix Mercury in Game 4 of the semifinals and bringing an abrupt end to a season that began with the league's best record. The Lynx played the decisive game without All-Star forward Napheesa Collier, who rolled her left ankle late in Game 3, and without head coach Cheryl Reeve, who was suspended for one game after a confrontation with officials following the injury.

Collier went down after contact on a play at the end of Minnesota's 84-76 loss in Game 3 and had to be helped off the court. Minnesota initially said she was ruled out only for Game 4, not for the season, but she did not play as the Lynx fell in Phoenix. Reeve was ejected in Game 3 after receiving a second technical foul for coming onto the court to protest the officials and was later suspended by the league for aggressively confronting an official, delaying her exit after the ejection, and making inflammatory comments to fans and media.

Phoenix closed the series on Sunday after rallying in the fourth quarter. Kayla McBride led Minnesota with 31 points, hitting six 3-pointers in the second half, but the Lynx could not hold a...