On the same day that Arizona State celebrated a half century of varsity women’s basketball, the Phoenix Mercury battled to a second consecutive win over the Minnesota Lynx for the first time in a decade.
It was a women’s basketpalooza on and off the court reflective of how far the sport has progressed in metro Phoenix, where the NCAA Women’s Final Four will be played for the first time in April 2026.
That mega event will be held at PHX Arena, which was rocking Friday with a sellout 15,941 helping to drive the Mercury to a 21-9 fourth-quarter edge in their 84-76 WNBA playoff semifinal Game 3 win. Three days earlier, the Mercury rallied from 20 down with 5:45 left in the third quarter to win 89-83 in overtime on the road.
“The belief in us carries us,” Satou Sabally said. “We really pulled something unbelievable (in Game 2) and we knew coming here we were going to have our home crowd having our back. It’s just nice to be at home. We deserve to be here. We got a steal in Minnesota and really fought for that. Now we’re going to keep on fighting.”
The No. 4-seeded Mercury are one win away from returning to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2021 when they lost to the Chicago Sky. They are home again Sunday for Game 4 in a best-of-5 series that might slip away from the No. 1 seed Lynx if their brightest star Napheesa Collier is badly injured.
Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said Collier “had her shoulder pulled out and finished the game with her leg being taken out and probably has a fracture” while calling for a change in WNBA officiating leadership. Reeve was ejected for a second technical foul with seconds remaining and likely will be disciplined by the league for her post-game comments.
#Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve is absolutely irate as she’s held back by her assistants – she’s been ejected from Game 3.@Sports360AZ pic.twitter.com/rxS9CyvDYK
— Eliav Gabay (@eliavgabay) September 27, 2025
“This is the look the league wants.”#Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve calls for a change of leadership at the league level after calling Game 3 refereeing “malpractice”.
She also said Napheesa Collier potentially has a fracture.
Walked off without taking questions.@Sports360AZ pic.twitter.com/EF3bliKkDR
— Eliav Gabay (@eliavgabay) September 27, 2025
Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts wouldn’t engage in increasing league-wide outcry about games being too physical and poorly officiated. “We haven’t talked about the officiating all playoffs,” he said. “We just play and we’re worried about us.”
The Mercury have doubled their all-time playoff wins vs. the Lynx after starting this series just 2-13 with zero postseason wins in Minneapolis and none of any sort since 2014.
Phoenix went on to win their third WNBA title in 2014. The Lynx, Seattle Storm and Houston Comets are tied for the most in the 29-year-old league with four each.
ASU’s varsity women’s basketball history goes back two decades before the WNBA, to 1975-76 specifically and therefore the 50th anniversary reunion that was well enough attended to be moved from Old Main to the larger Student Pavilion.
Charli Turner Thorne was Sun Devil coach for 25 seasons through 2021-22 and now is on the Mercury staff as a scout who helped to build this year’s roster depth.
“It’s super special that I’m obviously always a part of ASU basketball but also on the Mercury team now,” Turner Thorne said. “I’m so excited about that leadership and the direction we’re going and the league is going. I’m pretty blessed.
“The great news is right now women’s basketball has never been in better shape, college and pro. It’s the viewership, fan bases, television coverage, the money, all the resources for these young women, how much communities that maybe never even thought about watching women’s basketball are now excited about watching women’s basketball. I wouldn’t say I’m surprised, but I’m just really proud and really grateful for the growth of women’s basketball and where we’re at right now.”
#ASU WBB 50th anniversary reunion pic.twitter.com/ZkZMdo2UW4
— jeffmetcalfe (@jeffmetcalfe) September 26, 2025
Kym Hampton made the trip from Portland to Tempe, where she starred for ASU from 1980-84 and still is the school career scoring leader (2,361 points). Hampton still was playing professionally at the outset of the WNBA after years abroad, putting in three seasons with the New York Liberty.
Briann January and Hampton are the most notable of ASU’s seven players with WNBA credentials. January currently is an assistant coach with the Indiana Fever.
“When you look at the WNBA, I think Phoenix is doing an amazing job,” Hampton said. “They’re constantly reminding us and showing us how they’re continuing to invest in that program and to invest in women’s basketball.
“Arizona State is definitely jumping on that bandwagon. They have a new coach, they are looking to change the direction of the ship and to really feed into that momentum that is already taking place with the Phoenix Mercury. It’s a great time. It gives players the opportunity to come and know that there’s a professional team right here, right in my backyard. If players aspire to be a professional athlete, you have a hometown team. It’s just awesome. It’s just all playing out the way it should.”
#ASU WBB coach Molly Miller speaking during program’s 50th anniversary reunion pic.twitter.com/hEAgI07DEc
— jeffmetcalfe (@jeffmetcalfe) September 26, 2025
ASU’s first-year coach is Molly Miller, coming across town after a 32-3, NCAA Tournament season in her fifth year at Grand Canyon.
“I came to ASU for days like today,” said Miller, who introduced her 2025-26 players to the audience.
“Women’s basketball is on the scene. Here we are with a playoff game that the Mercury are in. Here we are celebrating 50 years of ASU women’s basketball. Here we are hosting the Final Four this year. There’s a lot to be proud of in the community and a lot to build off of. This is a special day to bridge the past with the present and the future. I’m just so honored to be a part of it.”
The post Women’s basketpalooza: Mercury grab WNBA semifinal series lead, ASU celebrates 50th anniversary on same day first appeared on Sports360AZ.
