Minnesota Lynx at Los Angeles Sparks Postgame Materials
Published on May 18, 2022 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Minnesota Lynx News Release
MINNESOTA LYNX 87, Los Angeles Sparks 84
Crypto.com Arena| Los Angeles, CA| May 17, 2022
High Points High Rebounds High Assists
Minnesota Lynx McBride - 24 Fowles - 12 Jefferson - 6
Los Angeles Sparks Ogwumike - 22 Ogwumike - 8 Canada - 6
Lynx Notes
Coming off a championship with Fenerbahçe in the Turkish Super League and joining Minnesota for the first time this season, Kayla McBride had a dominating first quarter performance, leading the Lynx to their highest scoring quarter this season (25) with 15 points on 4-of-6 shooting beyond the arc. She tied her career-record for most points scored in the first quarter (July 9, 2014, vs New York Liberty). McBride fell one point shy of tying her career-high in any single quarter of a regular season (16 points on August 18, 2017, at Seattle).
Since joining the Lynx, McBride topped both her first quarter total (12 points vs. Atlanta on June 6, 2021) and any single quarter total points (14 at Phoenix on July 3, 2021; second quarter).
McBride's four-point play to end the first quarter was only the 13th of such in team history and the first since 2018 when Maya Moore reached the mark on June 18, 2018 against Dallas.
While shooting a perfect 4-of-4 from the line, McBride drew a foul on a made basket with 2.1 seconds remaining in regulation to lift Minnesota over Los Angeles 87-84.
In her second Lynx game, Moriah Jefferson dropped a season-high 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting. With her 13th point of the night, Jefferson passed the 2500 career point marker. Jefferson gathered seven rebounds while dishing out a team-high six assists in 36:26 minutes of action.
For the third consecutive game, Sylvia Fowles recorded a double-double with 20 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, marking her 183rd career double-double. She added two assists, two blocks and one steal. Fowles shot 8-of-10 from the field while six of her points came on a second-chance.
Jessica Shepard finished with 10 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Shepard found McBride for the game-winning layup and foul to avoid overtime. This is the fourth game this season that Shepard has scored in double figures.
Team Notes
It was just the eighth time during the regular season in team history that the Lynx had three players score 20+ points, most recently on June 25, 2021 against Las Vegas (Sylvia Fowles 30, Napheesa Collier 23, and Layshia Clarendon 20).
Tonight's victory marks the 12th time in franchise history that the Lynx have won by scoring the go-ahead/winning points in the final 3.0 seconds of regulation (11th time in regular season play).
The Lynx registered a season-high nine three-pointers made against the Sparks, led by McBride's four made threes.
Minnesota won the rebound war, 40-26. Fowles led all rebounders with 12 boards (seven on the defensive end). This marks a new season-high for the Lynx.
The Lynx dominated on the offensive glass, outrebounded Los Angeles 13-7. The Lynx turned 13 offensive rebounds into 22 second chance points, whereas the Sparks had 14 second-chance points.
The Lynx scored a season-high 87 points in the contest and scored season-highs in the first and fourth quarter, bringing in 25 points in each 10-minute period.
The Lynx look to continue their three-game road trip stopping in Las Vegas to take on the Aces on Thursday, May 19. Tip is set for 9:00 p.m. CT and will broadcast on Bally Sports Extra.
Los Angeles Notes
Nneka Ogwumike led Los Angeles with 22 points, connecting on 9-of-16 from the field and 4-of-4 from the line. She added eight rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
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