EAGAN, Minn. – Justin Jefferson is used to being cheered for, but he turned the tables and did the cheering Tuesday night.
The Vikings receiver sat courtside at Target Center, supporting the Minnesota Lynx in Game 2 of the WNBA semifinals against the Connecticut Sun.
"It was great to see the fans fill the arena and people support the ladies," he told Twin Cities media members Wednesday. "It was a great game, for sure."
Jefferson had posted on X (formerly Twitter) earlier that day that he intended to be there after the Lynx lost Game 1 in a 73-70 heartbreaker, and he didn't disappoint.
"You know we're gettin' that 'Dub,' " Jefferson said in a selfie video.
When shown on the arena's videoboard, Jefferson received a warm ovation from the 8,700-plus fans.
He gave equally warm encouragement for the Lynx, who battled to a 77-70 win thanks to 17-point and 15-point performances, respectively, from Courtney Williams and Alanna Smith – the latter of whom shot 3-for-4 from behind the 3-point arc.
Lynx star Napheesa Collier, who recently was named the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, fell short of her 20.4 point-per-game average but added nine points and led Minnesota with an impressive 12 rebounds.
It seemed fitting to have "Jets" in the house during a "persistently physical matchup that resembled football at times more than hoops," via Dave Campbell of The Associated Press.
After the score remained largely close throughout the entire first half, the Lynx clawed their way to a larger lead in the third quarter and never let the deficit decrease to less than 7 in the fourth.
"It was fun," Jefferson said with a smile. "I'm gonna have to go back."
This wasn't the first time he's repped the Lynx.
In September 2021, Jefferson wore a Sylvia Fowles jersey to the Vikings Week 3 game at U.S. Bank Stadium in support of the Lynx's playoff game that afternoon against the Chicago Sky. He attended his first game this past July, when he and his father saw the Lynx take on the Indiana Fever.
Though he'll be in the U.K. this weekend for the Vikings game against the Jets, Jefferson will be keeping his eye on Games 3 and 4, hosted by Connecticut. If necessary, Game 5 will be back at Target Center on Oct. 8.
The Lynx never lost consecutive home contests this season en route to a 30-10 record that earned them the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.
Minnesota executed a two-game sweep of the Phoenix Mercury in Round 1, helping in pursuit of a fifth WNBA title.
