As the Lynx battled the New York Liberty in their second game of the best-of-five series, a group of fans, along with thousands of other Lynx fans across Minnesota, ran through the Fitspace gym in St. Louis Park with their hearts racing .

They hoped their team could overcome an early deficit and claim victory for the second time after falling behind. However, the watching party ended in disappointment as the Lynx fell 80-66. Still, the Lynx fans sitting on treadmills and stair climbers were upbeat throughout the game.

“I want this so much for her,” said Nancy Johnson of Minneapolis. As a long-time season ticket holder, she has gotten to know some Lynx players. She sat at court with her mother Marion, who died two years ago.

On Sunday, Johnson wore a T-shirt depicting her mother cheering at a Lynx game. She said she felt close to her mother watching the games.

“It’s cool to feel so alive with my mom now,” Johnson said as she waved a rally towel in the air.

During a commercial break, Johnson and fellow fan Nancy Campbell of Chanhassen took turns spinning a basketball on their fingers while Adam Winters of Wayzata cheered them on.

“My heart is pounding and this is just the beginning of the game,” Campbell said.

Campbell and other longtime fans are hoping for another championship for the team. She said she was excited to see more people paying attention to the WNBA this season after the Caitlin Clark craze and the Olympics brought more fans to the women's game.