Aaaand just like that….there are no more undefeated teams remaining in the WNBA…
Remember earlier this week all of the build-up to Minnesota Lynx/Los Angeles Sparks? Say what you want about it being a matinee game on a weekday on NBA TV, but it ended up being a great game—one that went the way of Minnesota.
When the two teams met in Minnesota—it was an entirely different story as the Sparks throttled the Lynx, 94-76 in the Twin Cities. That gave the Lynx its first loss of the season—meaning the number of undefeated teams in the WNBA is down to zero.
LA turned the Target Center into Staples North by hitting 11 threes. Seven of them came by way of Kristi Tolliver who finished with 25 points. Lindsay Whalen, Seimone Augustus, and Sylvia Fowles all were held to single digits in scoring.
And the beat continued for the Lynx as they lost to the Mystics in Washington, D.C. That will happen when Maya Moore only scores five points in 15 minutes of play (a season low). On the Mystics’ side, they got 20 from Emma Messeman and 17 from Tayler Hill.
But not all is bad for the Lynx in the Nation’s Capital—they have a White House visit to look forward to.
One may expect the Sparks to blow out a 3-12 like Connecticut instead of the defending champions, but the Sun gave the Sparks a game at Staples for much of its contest against Los Angeles on Sunday. The Sparks outscoring Connecticut 25-13 plus an 11-16 shooting performance via Nneka Ogwumike were the difference in their 80-73 victory against the Sun.
Not too long ago, the Phoenix Mercury were in the news for completing a trade with those very Sun that sent All-Star Kelsey Bone to Arizona. It was one of two trades the Mercury completed as they also did one with Seattle.
Between the two wins the Mercury pulled off (91-79 against the Mystics, 104-97 over the New York Liberty—their first game with Bone) plus the trades, it was a not-too-bad weekend for the team tagged in the preseason as perennial favorites. Diana Taurasi and Britney Griner combined for 49 points against Washington.
The game against New York went into overtime with Candice Dupree scoring eight of her 26 points in the extra period. Taurasi added 24. For the Liberty, Tina Charles dropped 26 and Sugar Rodgers added 23.
The loss to the Mercury for the Liberty snapped what was a six-game winning streak—one that became six when the Liberty, despite 31 from Elena Delle Donne and 20 from Cappie Pondexter, topped the Chicago Sky by one, 80-79. Charles had 21 plus 10 rebounds and Kiah Stokes added 12 points.
Well the campaign is over. @50cent will be in Orlando this Friday promoting @effenvodka . I still love you ??? #wnba20for50
— Imani Boyette (@ImaniBoyette) June 22, 2016
By the way, 50 Cent missed out on this game? We understand he is a businessman and has ventures all over the place—but, honestly? You missed out on what was a pretty good game and your city’s team won!
Oh, well….
Fifty divided by two equals 25. That was the number on center stage in San Antonio this weekend as the Stars retired Becky Hammon’s jersey. She was also named to the WNBA’s Top 20@20 list.
Last night the @SAStars retired @BeckyHammon‘s #25 jersey! #Becky25 #WatchMeWorkhttps://t.co/dk6S7bNlY3
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 26, 2016
The current crop of San Antonio Stars also did their part in sending their fans home happy courtesy of a 73-69 victory, beating the Atlanta Dream. Kayla McBride led the Stars with 28 points. The Dream’s Angel McCoughtry finished with 23.
As for the Connecticut Sun, they not only traded away Kelsey Bone and nearly defeated the Sparks at Staples, but the Sun could not peer through the Storm as Seattle defeated Connecticut at Key Arena by a final score of 98-81.
Instrumental in that victory for the Storm was a career-high 29 points for Breanna Stewart. They also got 19 from Jewell Loyd and Sue Bird. The Storm also shot a robust 61 percent from the field.
Bone had 10 points in her last game with the Sun. Alex Bentley had 13.
As for the Indiana Fever, they managed to increase its record to 6-9 by defeating the Dallas Wings 92-87 at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas.
Erlana Larkins’ 19-points, a career high for her, were a major difference in this game along with 15 points each from Tamika Catchings, Erica Wheeler, and Briann January. Karima Christmas scored 21 for Dallas and also pulled down 12 rebounds. Odyssey Sims added 18.
By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)
