Preview: Sparks host the Lynx in WNBA season opener

2011 WNBA Opening Day

Photo courtesy Los Angele Sparks/WNBA

• Minnesota at Los Angeles, Staples Center
• Friday, June 3, 2011, 11: 00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. PT
• TV: PRIME (local), NBA TV
• Streaming: Live Access
• Live Stats: WNBA.com
• Hoopfeed.com Sparks Overview: Los Angeles Sparks players in sync, healthy and ready for 2011
• Opening day Rosters of all WNBA teams

The Los Angeles Sparks and the Minnesota Lynx headline the opening of the WNBA’s 15^th season. Sparks star forward Candace Parker is back healthy and ready to help her team while the Lynx has the services of former UConn standout and No. 1 draft pick Maya Moore. The Sparks have beaten Minnesota seven consecutive times since 2008. The Lynx are 2-3 when starting away from Target Center.

In the annual WNBA preseason general manager’s survey, both Los Angeles and Minnesota received votes in a poll about what team will win the Western Conference title. The Seattle Storm received 58.3 percent, the Lynx and the Phoenix Mercury tied with 16.7 percent and the Sparks received 8.3 percent of the GM votes.

While Sparks veteran and WNBA original Tina Thompson is pleased with the Sparks’ chemistry and preparation for the season, Parker is happy to be back on the court especially after spending the last two offseasons in Russia.

“I’m really excited to be back in the WNBA,” said Parker in a recent league conference call to media. “I missed playing basketball in front of my home country. I think playing overseas is a lot different. I feel great health wise.”

One of the moves the Sparks made to help get their roster ready for the season was to trade Parker’s childhood friend, forward, Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton to the Chicago Sky in exchange for a second round draft pick.

The Sparks also have two veterans returning: point guard Ticha Penicheiro and forward DeLisha Milton-Jones.

“I’m very excited about this team this year,” said Parker. “As long as we can stay healthy, I really feel like we can be in front. I think this year is going to be the most competitive year. I think if you look at the rosters, and I think anybody is capable of being in the hunt for the championship.”

In the Lynx’s two preseason games, both against Indiana, high scorers were starting point guard Lindsay Whalen and forward Rebekkah Brunson. Taj McWilliams-Franklin was the team’s leading rebounder.

This Sparks begins its 15^th year in the league while Minnesota begins its 13^th season.

Rosters

Minnesota

16	Ebony Hoffman	F	6-2	USC	7
1	Natasha Lacy	G	5-10	Texas-El Paso	1
42	Jantel Lavender	C	6-4	Ohio State	R
8	DeLisha Milton-Jones	F	6-1	Florida	12
6	Jenna O’Hea	G	6-1	Australia	R
3	Candace Parker	F	6-4	Tennessee	3
21	Ticha Penicheiro	G	5-11	Old Dominion ’98/Portugal	13
30	LaToya Pringle	F-C	6-3	North Carolina	2
45	Noelle Quinn	G	6-0	UCLA	4
32	Tina Thompson	F	6-2	USC	14
20	Kristi Toliver	G	5-7	Maryland	2

• Probable Starters: Ticha Penicheiro, Noelle Quinn, Tina Thompson, DeLisha Milton-Jones, Candace Parker
• Sparks Newcomers: Ebony Hoffman, Natasha Lacy, Jantel Lavender, Jenna Ohea
• Players Lost: Marie Ferdinand-Harris, Betty Lennox, Andrea Riley

Minnesota

1	Jessica Adair	C	6-4	George Washington	1
33	Seimone Augustus	G-F	6-0	Louisiana State	5
32	Rebekkah Brunson	F	6-2	Georgetown	7
6	Amber Harris	F	6-5	Xavier (Ohio)	R
14	Alexis Hornbuckle	G	5-10	Tennessee	3
24	Charde Houston	F	6-0	Connecticut	3
8	Taj McWilliams-Franklin	F-C	6-2	St. Edward’s	12
23	Maya Moore	F	6-0	Connecticut	R
13	Lindsay Whalen	G	5-9	Minnesota	7
11	Candice Wiggins	G	5-11	Stanford	3
22	Monica Wright	G-F	5-10	Virginia	1

• Probable Starters: Maya Moore, Rebekkah Brunson, Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Seimone Augustus, Lindsay Whalen
• Lynx Newcomers: Amber Harris, Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Maya Moore
• Players Lost: Nicky Anosike, Hamchetou Maiga-Ba
• Injuries: Alexis Hornbuckle: Returned Tuesday at Indiana, after missing the May 24 game vs. the Fever due to a strained left hamstring

2010 Team Stats and Leaders

Los Angeles Points Scored: 77.9 (9th) Points Allowed: 81.2 (8th) Field-Goal Percentage: .441 (7th) Opponents’ FG%: .442 (7th) 2010 Leaders PPG – Candace Parker 20.6 RPG – Candace Parker 10.1 APG – Ticha Penicheiro 6.9 SPG – Ticha Penicheiro 1.34 BPG – Candace Parker 2.2

Minnesota Points Scored: 78.7 (6th) Points Allowed: 82.1 (9th) Field-Goal Percentage: .398 (12th) Opponents’ FG%: .446 (9th) 2010 Leaders PPG – Seimone Augustus 16.9 RPG – Rebekkah Brunson 10.3 APG – Lindsay Whalen 5.6 SPG – Nicky Anosike 2.0 BPG – Nicky Anosike 1.03

 

Around the Web

• WNBA.com Lynx preview
• WNBA.com Sparks preview
• Associated Press preview
• Lynx begin season with high expectations (AP)
• Healthy Candace Parker back to lead LA Sparks (AP)
• Fast Break: Lobo on WNBA (espn.com)