The Los Angeles Sparks just pulled off an absolutely massive 89-82 win against the Minnesota Lynx, a team everyone knows is the league’s best. Thursday night was a battle, and LA showed up big time, proving they’re not backing down from anyone. This wasn’t just a win; it was a statement against the top dog, on their own turf in Minneapolis.
LA’s Resilience Shines Through Early Chaos
Man, this game started wild. The Lynx came out absolutely firing from the field, dropping five straight points right out of the gate. Talk about a punch to the gut! But Dearica Hamby wasn’t having it, immediately responding with four straight points for LA. She was leading all scorers early, with Erica Wheeler right behind her with three points. It felt like Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier and Courtney Williams were doing it all though, combining for 12 of the Lynx’s first 22 points. The Sparks were down by 10 at the five-minute mark, and you just had to wonder if it was going to be one of those nights. But then, the tide turned! The Lynx suddenly went ice cold from the field, and LA capitalized with a huge 15-4 run. They were dominating in the paint, up 14-8, and Minnesota couldn’t hit water from a boat from deep, going a brutal 1-10 from behind the arc. By the end of the first quarter, the Sparks had clawed back and were only down by a single point. What a comeback already!
Swings, Triples, and a Halftime Heartbreaker
The second period kicked off with Dearica Hamby picking up right where she left off, scoring first for Los Angeles to give them a one-point lead. Olivia Miles responded for Minnesota, and then it turned into a back-and-forth layup exchange between just those two for a while. LA was up by two at the 6:48 mark, and they were shooting a solid 46% from the field in the quarter. They even built a five-point lead, showing some serious control. But the Lynx are the league’s best for a reason, right? Collier and Nia Coffey hit back-to-back triples, snatching the lead back for Minnesota. It sparked an insane 11-0 scoring run for the Lynx. Olivia Miles then capped it all off with a buzzer-beating three, sending Minnesota into halftime up by eight, 48-40. That one had to sting, turning a five-point deficit into an eight-point lead for the Lynx by the break.
Third Quarter Showdown: LA Fights Back With Buckets
The third quarter started with Nneka Ogwumike draining a triple for Los Angeles, an immediate answer to Miles’s buzzer-beater. But Miles just fired one right back, showing she wasn’t done. Then Burrell splashed a three-pointer, and suddenly, it was a triple party! Kayla McBride and Ariel Atkins joined in, knocking down back-to-back triples for the Lynx. The scoring was coming from everywhere. By this point, the Sparks had three players in double figures: Burrell leading with 14, Nneka with 12, and Hamby with 11. McBride had two triples in the quarter herself, hitting 10 points overall for Minnesota. Even with all that scoring, LA was still down by seven at the 4:31 mark. Collier kept pushing for Minnesota, adding another four points to get her total to 19. Despite the Lynx playing some really good basketball, the Sparks kept hanging in there. This team just keeps fighting, and after taking down the league’s best, you know they’re feeling good about what’s coming next. This kind of resilience against top competition? That’s how you build momentum for a serious run.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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