Courtney Williams scored 20 points, as Minnesota Links on Tuesday secured a place in the commissioner’s cup final for a 76-62 victory over the Las Vegas Aces in Miniapolis.
Williams scored 18 points in the second half, while Diamond Miller and Natasha Hydeman chose each in 12 points from the bench.
Alana Smith recorded 10 points for Links (11–1) and a double-dobbal of 13 rebounds, which improved 6–0 at home and would face Indiana fever on 1 July for the title. Minnesota won the cup last year.
Links removed the aces despite MVP candidate Neepsa Kolier not being most of the second half. She left the third in the third with a clear back injury and did not return.
Las Vegas led more than 14 in the first half, but could not hold it. Jewel Lloyd scored 12 runs, while Tiffany Mitchell pairs 10 for Aces (5-6), who changed the ball 21 times for their second consecutive losses.
Las Vegas was playing without the rule of MVP Aja Wilson for the third consecutive game as it remains in the convention protocol.
Minnesota led 56–52 after three quarters, erasing the 39–30 halftime deficit. 10–1 runs returned to start the third. Williams also pulled the links with aces on a bridge-up jumper with 5:26.
Smith’s paste with 4:14 gave Minnesota the first leadership of the night at 45-43. She was fouled in the play, but she did not make a free throw.
Links dropped the ACES from 26–13 in the third and opened the fourth for 14–2 runs. He took his first double-congestion lead at 65–54 to play on a drive by Hydman with 7:07.
Las Vegas opened the game for 8–0 runs on some baskets of Mitchell, who started Wilson’s place and played for Minnesota in 2023.
Coliere finished scoring drought of links to play in the initial quarters with 6:39 on a jumper in lane. He was fouled on the shot and made the upcoming free throw.
The Aces made a jumper with the time after 18–15, as one after another.
Las Vegas led 30–19 with 5:29 and after the back-to-back 3-pointers from Dana Evans, Loyd and Kia Stokes. Meanwhile, links had no luck beyond the arch, remembering their first 11 shots from the distance because they struggled to maintain speed.
Miller added Minnesota’s first 3-pointer to play with 1:37 of the first 3-pointer of the night, closing the difference to 37–28. Links were held for half a season lower for half.
-Bield level media
