A MINNESOTA Lynx star has broken down in tears after her side’s cruel WNBA playoff loss.

The Lynx suffered an 86-81 loss against the Phoenix Mercury in their semi-finals Game 4.

Kayla McBride with her hand on her face next to a man and another woman with pink hair at a press conference.
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Kayla McBride was in tears after the Minnesota Lynx’s WNBA playoff lossCredit: X @sluggahjells

Head coach Cheryl Reeve of the Minnesota Lynx reacting during the first half of a WNBA Playoffs game.
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Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve was banned for Game 4 against the Phoenix MercuryCredit: Getty
This marks the end of their season after back-to-back-to-back defeats against the Mercury.

Lynx shooting guard Kayla McBride, 33, struggled to contain her emotions during a touching post-game press conference.

“It’s the people that I go to work with every day,” McBride said. “I’ve been here five years, and to be like so close, you just want it for the people around you.

“It doesn’t get any better than what we have in our locker room. We lay it out for each other. When it’s like that every day, it builds up. ”

The veteran shooting guard had an impressive individual performance as the Lynx fall just short.

McBride registered 31 points, four rebounds, and two assists.

She arrived in Minnesota in 2021 after seven years with the San Antonio Stars/Las Vegas Aces.

It has been a disappointing end to the season for the Lynx as their hopes crumbled before them.

The Minnesota side topped the WNBA’s regular season with 34 wins.

This was four more than the second-ranked Aces managed.

They then cruised through the first playoff round with consecutive wins against the Golden State Valkyries.

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However, the Lynx have faced the wrath of WNBA officials as their season ended enveloped in a scandal.

Head coach Cheryl Reeve lashed out at league officials after forward Napheesa Collier suffered an injury in Game 2 against Phoenix.

She was ejected from the game as Collier went down with a leg injury with just seconds remaining.

Coach Reeve was banned for Game 4 as the Lynx’s season hung in the balance.

Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve blasts WNBA refs after Napheesa Collier injury

They needed a win to take the series to a fifth and final showdown.

The defeat is made worse after the Lynx lost last season’s finals series 3-2 against the New York Liberty.

“To be close two years in a row and hit adverse situations each and every time, for the people that you love, s*** f****** hurts,” McBride added.

“I wouldn’t trade that locker room for anything. I would feel like this 100 times over to be with the people that I’ve been with.”

The Mercury will face either the Aces or Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever for the 2025 WNBA title.