MINNEAPOLIS — For the Minnesota Lynx, Sunday’s playoff opener was more than just a game. It was a chance to prove a point. Just hours after the WNBA announced its regular season awards, the Lynx, fueled by frustration and a burning desire for a fifth championship, delivered a decisive 82-69 victory over the Phoenix Mercury in Game 1 of the best-of-five semifinal series.

The day began with a series of slights that lit a fire under the league’s top team. Despite leading the Lynx to the league’s best record, a top offense and defense, and becoming only the second player in WNBA history to join the 50-40-90 club, Napheesa Collier lost the MVP award to the Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson. The snubs didn’t stop there. Coach Cheryl Reeve was passed over for Coach of the Year in favor of a rookie head coach, Alanna Smith had to share her Defensive Player of the Year award with Wilson, and Natasha Heideman was overlooked for Sixth Player of the Year.

The Lynx, who led the league in offensive rating, defensive rating, net rating, wins, and effective field goal shooting, among other key stats, entered the game with a singular focus: to send a message.

The first half, however, did not go as planned. Phoenix, fresh off a series win over the defending champion New York Liberty, dominated the paint, scoring 42 of their 47 points inside. The Lynx trailed by seven at halftime, prompting a critical halftime conversation.

“You can’t see your teammates out there crashing and you’re just standing, that ain’t no good look,” guard Courtney Williams said, laughing, after the game.

Her backcourt mate Kayla McBride added, “Cheryl really called on us as guards to get in there. I know she did for me. She sent me a whole statistical document about it, and there was a lot of red on there, so I should kind of step up at some point.”

The Lynx responded to the challenge. They held the Mercury to just 22 points in the second half and a mere seven points in the paint. Williams provided a spark on both ends of the court, scoring 12 of her game-high 23 points after halftime and recording a career-high five steals.

“When she’s out there hooping and confident, it’s contagious,” McBride said of Williams.

McBride herself was instrumental in the comeback, finishing with 21 points, including a crucial three-pointer with under four minutes to play that pushed the Lynx’s lead to 73-67. Collier, after a slow second quarter, scored eight points in the third and finished with 18 points and nine rebounds, setting the tone for what her supporters hope will be a “Revenge Tour.”

The Lynx will look to take a 2-0 series lead when they host the Mercury for Game 2 on Tuesday before the series shifts to Phoenix for Game 3 on Friday.