Collier scores 24 points, Lynx use big 2nd-half run to beat Valkyries 86-75

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Napheesa Collier had 24 points and 11 rebounds, Courtney Williams added 20 points, five rebounds and five assists and the Minnesota Lynx beat the expansion Golden State Valkyries 86-75 on Sunday night.

Minnesota (7-0) tied with New York a top the WNBA standings after losing in the championship series to the Liberty last season.

The Valkyries (2-4) made WNBA history with three consecutive sellout crowds in the first three home games at the 18,064-capacity Chase Center, which is also the home of the NBA's Golden State Warriors.

Williams hit a 3-pointer 3:01 into the third quarter that gave the Lynx the lead for good and sparked a 27-5 run, capped when Collier and Williams hit 3s 27 seconds apart to make it 83-61 with 5:43 to play. Natisha Hiedeman scored all of her eight points and added two assists and two steals in Minnesota's game-breaking spurt.

Kayla McBride scored 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting and Bridget Carleton added 12 points for the Lynx.

Veronica Burton hit three 3-pointers and finished with 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting for Golden State. Kate Martin added 14 points and Kayla Thornton had 11.

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Golden State Valkyries' Monique Billings (25) defends against Minnesota Lynx's Jessica Shepard (15) in the first half of a WNBA basketball game in San Francisco, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Tiffany Hayes (15) puts up a shot in the first half as the Golden State Valkyries played the Minnesota Lynx at Chase Center in San Francisco, on Sunday, June 1, 2025. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Kate Martin (20) drives to the basket in the first half as the Golden State Valkyries played the Minnesota Lynx at Chase Center in San Francisco, on Sunday, June 1, 2025. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Minnesota Lynx's Alanna Smith, center, is defended by Golden State Valkyries' Cecilia Zandalasini (24) and Stephanie Talbot, right, in the first half of a WNBA basketball game in San Francisco, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

PARIS (AP) — A Paris court is to rule on Monday in a case involving 10 people accused of cyberbullying French first lady Brigitte Macron by spreading false online claims about her gender and sexuality, allegations her daughter said damaged her health and family life.

The defendants, eight men and two women aged 41 to 60, are accused of posting “numerous malicious comments” falsely claiming that President Emmanuel Macron ’s wife was born a man and linking the 24-year age gap with her husband to pedophilia. Some of the posts were viewed tens of thousands of times.

Brigitte Macron did not attend the two-day trial in October.

Her daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified about what she described as the “deterioration” of her mother’s life since the online harassment intensified. “She cannot ignore the horrible things said about her,” Auzière told the court. She said the impact has extended to the entire family, including Macron’s grandchildren.

Defendant Delphine Jegousse, 51, who is known as Amandine Roy and describes herself as a medium and an author, is considered as having played a major role in spreading the rumor after she released a four-hour video on her YouTube channel in 2021.

The X account of Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, 41, known as Zoé Sagan on social media, was suspended in 2024 after his name was cited in several judicial investigations.

Other defendants include an elected official, a teacher and a computer scientist. Several told the court their comments were intended as humor or satire and said they did not understand why they were being prosecuted. They face up to two years in prison if convicted.

The case follows years of conspiracy theories falsely alleging that Brigitte Macron was born under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, which is actually the name of her brother. The Macrons have also filed a defamation suit in the United States against conservative influencer Candace Owens.

The Macrons, who have been married since 2007, first met at the high school where he was a student and she was a teacher. Brigitte Macron, 24 years her husband’s senior, was then called Brigitte Auzière, a married mother of three.

Emmanuel Macron, 48, has been France’s president since 2017.

FILE - French President's wife Brigitte Macron arrives ahead of the ceremony outside "La Belle Equipe" bar, Thursday Nov. 13, 2025 in Paris as part of ceremonies marking the 10th anniversary of terrorist attacks. (Ludovic Marin, Pool photo via AP, File)