Kayla McBride had arrived in Minnesota just days ago. On Sunday, as her Lynx teammates practiced, she rode an exercise bike. On Monday, she had her first practice of the 2025 season.

But there she was, Tuesday night, in the game's final minute, getting to the free-throw line twice, hitting all four free throws, helping ice an 82-77 victory over the Seattle Storm for a Minnesota team that held down the fort while she was gone and made her feel safe when she returned.

All while a crowd of 7,808 fans at Target Center welcomed her back.

"I was just grateful, being out there," said McBride. She had been away from the team, dealing with a personal issue, since training camp began, missing the Lynx's 4-0 start. Tuesday, against a surging Seattle team that had won three straight, McBride — who scored 15 points, hit four of eight shots, made three of six threes — felt thrilled to be back playing with teammates she described as sisters.

"I'm fortunate for this group," she said. "From the moment I came back, it's been nothing but love and support. I'm just lucky. That's what you saw out there, I felt safe."

There was no luck in this victory, which gave the Lynx their best start to a season since the 2017 squad began 9-0.

It was more grit. The Lynx jumped all over the Storm in a 26-11 first quarter, then spent two-plus quarters letting Seattle back into the game.

The Storm closed in within a point early in the fourth quarter and were still within three in the final minute.

But the Lynx did not falter.

It wasn't just McBride, of course. Courtney Williams, who described the misery of "sitting on a goose egg for three days," bounced back from an 0-for-11 performance to score 23 points on 10-for-18 shooting. After the game, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve referred to Williams as "Dory," the forgetful fish in the animated movie "Finding Nemo."

BOXSCORE: Lynx 82, Seattle 77

WNBA standings

Napheesa Collier was again outstanding. She scored 16 points, had 10 boards, five assists, five steals and two blocks. In the first 10 minutes, she became the first WNBA player to have at least five steals and two blocks in the same quarter. On Wednesday, she was named Western Conference player of the week.

Alanna Smith scored 16 points with seven rebounds.

But the Lynx, finally whole, again proved resilient, thanks to the core of the team. Williams (nine), Collier (eight) and McBride (six) scored 23 of Minnesota's 28 fourth-quarter points.

One day on the bike, one day of practice, 30:33 of playing time.

The first time McBride touched the ball, she got an assist. The first time she shot the ball, it was a made three. The last time she got to the line, her two free throws put the Lynx up six with 14.7 seconds left.

"It was like riding a bike," McBride said, no pun intended.

But seriously, it was a feel-good return for a key player on a team that, still undefeated, has enormous goals. One good enough to win four games without McBride, and talented enough to beat a good Seattle team with her back.

"It's a different type of security having K-Mac out there," Williams said. "I'm so happy to have my dawg back."

Said Reeve: "Nobody has to be perfect. It's OK not to be OK at times. We all have life happening. I think her being back, feeling safe, she would be herself. I think that was empowering."