Sparks Down Lynx to Win Season Series

Los Angeles (August 2, 2018) – The Los Angeles Sparks (16-11) secured a crucial 79-57 victory against the Minnesota Lynx (15-11) Thursday night at Staples Center, securing the regular season series and eventual playoff tiebreaker with the defending WNBA champions.

With the Sparks leading 5-4 in the first quarter, seven points from Candace Parker fueled an 8-0 run to give Los Angeles a 13-4 lead at the 5:25 mark. Parker’s basket to cap the run already gave her 10 points on the night. After an exchange of baskets left the Sparks with an 18-8 advantage, Chelsea Gray sank a step back jumper with 6.9 seconds left to give Los Angeles a 20-8 lead going in to the second quarter. Maya Moore had six of the Lynx’s eight points, as Minnesota was held to just four first quarter field goals.

After both teams connected on buckets to start the second, Parker and Rebekkah Brunson exchanged 3-point plays to solidify a 27-15 lead for the Sparks. Two straight layups from Sylvia Fowles cut the Lynx’s deficit to eight with 3:58 to
play, but Gray found Parker and Ogwumike for consecutive baskets to push Los Angeles’ lead back to 12 (31-19). The
Sparks’ momentum continued after Essence Carson drained a corner three and Gray penetrated through the lane for the
score, giving Los Angeles its largest lead of the night (15) with 2:31 left in the half. Fowles’ fourth field goal of the frame
with 4.2 seconds remaining cut the Sparks’ lead to 40-29 as the teams took to the locker rooms. Parker led all scorer’s at
the break with 16 points and six rebounds, while Gray added eight points and six assists.

The Lynx got on the board first in the third straight quarter, but Parker responded with a tough fade-away jumper to
beat the shot clock (9:10). A pair of free throws from Fowles brought the Lynx to within single digits at 45-37 (6:38), but
consecutive layups from Ogwumike and Sims quickly pushed the Los Angeles lead back to 12. After Minnesota answered
with four straight points, Carson drilled her second long ball to push the score to 52-41 with 3:28 remaining. Gray
capped a 9-2 run with a 3-pointer and a steal and score, giving the Sparks their largest lead of the night at 16 (1:01). A
three from Alexis Jones cut the score to 59-46 heading into the fourth quarter.

A running layup from Ogwumike got the fourth quarter action started, and it took almost two minutes of game time for
the Lynx to respond by way of a Tami Fagbenle post bucket. At the 6:42 mark, Parker took it coast-to-coast and
converted the 3-point play, giving her 23 on the night and the Sparks a 64-48 lead. Down 16 with 5:29 to play, the Lynx
cleared their bench and the Sparks surged to the victory by a final score of 79-57. The win snapped Los Angeles’ fivegame
home losing streak.