For three days, things were cheerless for Courtney Williams.

She provided plenty of joy to herself and the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday night, bouncing back with a 23-point performance in a 82-77 win over the Seattle Storm at Target Center.

Williams missed all 11 of her shots in Friday’s win.

“It was miserable,” she said. “But shoutout to my coaches, because even though it’s so frustrating, they’re challenging me to be the best version of myself.”

More happiness may have come from the performance of Kayla McBride, an all-star guard who missed the first four games for personal reasons.

She provided an early spark at both ends of the floor and was clutch with four late free throws to secure the win. She finished with 15 points, including a trio of treys, in more than 30 minutes.

Coach Cheryl Reeve said being back around the team and playing games is a “natural pick me up” for the 12-year veteran.

McBride credited her teammates for the night.“I’m really, really fortunate for this group. From the moment that I came back into practice, back into Minny, it’s been nothing but love and support. I’m just lucky, so that’s what you saw out there. I felt great. I felt comfortable. I was happy, I was joyful.”

Said Reeve: “I think that something that Mac came to realize is that you don’t have to be perfect, nobody has to be perfect. It’s OK not to be OK sometimes, and doing it together because we all, all, have stuff. We all have life happening. I think her being back with, she would describe them as her sisters, and feeling that safe and that she could be herself, all part of herself. I think that was empowering to her.”

“She played great, “Reeve said. “We played her as if she’d been conditioning the entire time she was gone.”

About that.

McBride chuckled that her recent conditioning was on the bike two days ago and a team practice Monday. “It’s funny because it’s like riding a bike. Those first couple of pedals you’re kind of wobbling, then you just kind of work your way out.”

Napheesa Collier finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and tied a WNBA record with five first-quarter steals. Alanna Smith had 16 points and seven rebounds.

The Lynx led by double digits early, but midgame shooting woes from outside and poor interior defense allowed Seattle to stay within striking distance for much of the second half.

Nine of Williams’ points came in the final 10 minutes, including back-to-back jumpers for a 76-69 lead with 2:16 left.

She was 10 for 18 from the field and added five rebounds and four assists.

“She never thinks she’s not going to make a shot, so she’s not going to stop taking them,” Reeve said.

McBride made four free throws in the final 23 seconds, and Collier added a pair with 11.5 seconds to play.

“We never feel rattled. We are confident in ourselves, we’re confident in our group. So no matter what’s going on out there, we’re a tight knit group, we stay confident in everything that we do,” Williams said.

Gabby Williams led Seattle (3-2) with 20 points, and Skylar Diggins had 18.