Lynx at Sparks countdown: Game notes and audio
The Minnesota Lynx (12-0) and Los Angeles Sparks (11-0) will meet for a historic showdown of undefeated WNBA teams on Tuesday, June 21 at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT on NBA TV.
Minnesota and Los Angeles are off to the two best starts in WNBA history, and their matchup is the first in the WNBA, NBA, NFL, MLB or NHL between teams with 10 or more wins, no losses and no ties.
Game Notes
- Minnesota trails in the all-time series, 23-41, and is 7-25 in Los Angeles. The Lynx have won 14 of the past 21 regular-season meetings against the Sparks, but saw its three-game Staples Center winning streak halted last Aug. 4. The Sparks will visit Target Center this Friday night (June 24).
- Los Angeles (21.1 apg) and Minnesota (20.7 apg) are the top-two assists teams in the league this season.
- The Lynx currently led the WNBA with 87.8 points per game, while Los Angeles ranks second with 86.9 points per game however the Sparks have averaged 87.8 points per game on their home court this season, while allowing just 72.0 points.
Lynx Notes
- The Lynx rallied from an early 10-point deficit to beat Seattle, 96-84, on Sunday evening. The win extended the Lynx’ road winning streak to seven.
- Minnesota leads the WNBA in defensive rebounding percentage (.777) and ranks ninth in offensive rebounding percentage (.250) and fourth in total rebounding percentage (.514). The Lynx also lead the league in fewest second-chance points allowed (9.1 per game) and rank third in fewest paint points allowed (33.1 ppg).
- Sylvia Fowles notched 16 points and pulled down six rebounds against Seattle on Sunday, her 10th double-digit scoring effort of the season. She enters today’s game ranked fourth in field goal accuracy (58.5%), fifth in rebounding (8.3 rpg), eighth in blocks (1.17 bpg) and 15th in scoring (14.9 ppg).
- Maya Moore notched a team-high 18 points along with seven rebounds and eight assists against the Storm. She enters today’s game ranked third in the league in scoring (19.7 ppg), fourth in assists (5.0 apg) and seventh in free throw accuracy (90.0%).
- Minnesota’s bench outscored Seattle’s, 38-10, on Sunday, led by Natasha Howard’s season-high 16 points. Renee Montgomery notched six points from the bench alongside a career-high-tying 10 assists – her first double-digit assist effort of the season. Montgomery is averaging 11.8 point per game over the last five games, shooting 45.5% (10-for-22) from three-point range.
Sparks Notes
- The Sparks have won each of their 11 games by an average margin of victory of 16.0 points per game. Los Angeles has won two games by 30 points while also managing four other double-digit victories. Only three of its games have been decided by a single-digit margin.
- Recently named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played June 13-19, Candace Parker is averaging 16.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, a team-high 4.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Her scoring average places her 10th in the league and she most recently notched 24 points, 11 rebounds and four assists on June 17 against Phoenix.
- Nneka Ogwumike leads the Sparks in scoring (17.6 ppg) and rebounding (8.8 rpg) this season, and ranks first in the league in shooting percentage (69.2%). Ogwumike also leads Los Angeles in double-doubles with six in 11 games this season.
| Lynx Leaders | Sparks Leaders | ||
| Maya Moore | 19.7 ppg | Nneka Ogwumike | 17.6 ppg |
| Sylvia Fowles | 8.3 rpg | Nneka Ogwumike | 8.8 rpg |
| Maya Moore | 5.0 apg | Candace Parker | 4.4 apg |
Audio From Monday’s Conference Calls With Media
