The top-seeded Lynx were playing without Cheryl Reeve, who was suspended for Game 4 because of her behavior and comments toward officials in Game 3. Minnesota was also without All-Star guard Napheesa Collier, who suffered an ankle injury near the end of the Game 3 loss. The Mercury trailed 68-55 heading into the fourth quarter but pulled to 70-69 on Sami Whitcomb’s 3-pointer with 4:46 left. Phoenix’s Kahleah Copper hit a 3-pointer early in the third quarter to give the Mercury their first lead of the game at 41-38. The Lynx jumped out to an early 12-1 lead but the Mercury slowly chipped away at the deficit.