The Minnesota Lynx showed why they are the class of the WNBA, rolling to a 101-72 victory over the Golden State Valkyries on Sunday at Minneapolis in the opener of a best-of-three playoff series.

MVP candidate Napheesa Collier led the top-seeded Lynx with 20 points and six rebounds. Kayla McBride added 17 points on 3-of-5 shooting from 3-point range and Natisha Hiedeman scored 18 points with four assists off the bench for last season’s WNBA runner-up.

Cecilia Zandalasini and Veronica Burton each scored 14 points for the expansion Valkyries, who were playing in their first-ever playoff game. Janelle Salaun had 13 points and Temi Fagbenle added 12.

Golden State head coach Natalie Nakase earned a technical foul arguing with officials with 7:53 remaining as frustration boiled while the Valkyries trailed 85-58.

Leading 94-61 with 4:18 remaining, the Lynx pulled their starters and cruised to the victory after recovering in style from a slow start to the game.

Minnesota trailed 17-7 with 4:15 remaining in the first quarter before a 24-14 run tied the game 31-all with 5:54 remaining before halftime. In the second quarter, the Minnesota defense held the Golden State Valkyries to 12 points on 29.4 percent shooting and built a 47-40 lead at halftime.

After missing four games with a left shoulder injury, Minnesota’s DiJonai Carrington made her return in the third quarter and scored six points in 11 minutes of her first playoff game with Minnesota after a midseason trade from the Dallas Wings.

Salaun led the Valkyries with eight points in the first quarter as Golden State led 28-20 after the opening 10 minutes. After shooting a season-low 11.1 percent from 3-point range in the final game of the regular season, Golden State was 9 of 31 (29.0 percent) from deep, while the Lynx were 10 of 24 (41.7 percent) from distance.

–Field Level Media