Lynx vs. Sparks live blog: Highlights and analysis from the season opener
Of course the season opener is a rematch of the same WNBA Finals over the past 2 years.
3rd quarter: Sparks 46, Lynx 40
6:20 — HOW!? L.A. has rallied from down six at the half to go on a 14-0 run and take a six-point lead of their own. What is going on??
HALFTIME: Lynx 38 Sparks 32
The Sparks are in it. They’re without one of the best players in all of basketball and are only down six points. This is a good place to be if your’e L.A. Not if you’re Minnesota.
The Lynx turned the ball over 12 times in the first half and are clinging onto a six-point lead against a team without so many key players. Look for Minnesota to tighten up in the second half and play some championship basketball to pull away.
End of 1st quarter: Lynx 18, Sparks 18
Hey, Maya... You know my Jets need some DB help, right?
OH MAYA pic.twitter.com/6XVl1xkY06
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) May 20, 2018
Is that Dwyane Wade? No, it’s just Chelsea Gray weaving through the lane.
What a Euro step from @cgray209! #WatchMeWork
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 20, 2018
: ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/wRdQaxc9qG
The 2018-19 WNBA season opens on Sunday with a Finals rematch between the Minnesota Lynx and Los Angeles Sparks. It’s a rivalry showdown that has become one of the best in the sport’s history.
After all, the Sparks won the 2016 WNBA Finals on a game-winning buzzer beater fromMVP Nneka Ogwumike. The Lynx responded and beat the Sparks for the WNBA championship in 2017 on a cold-blooded game-winning floater from Maya Moore. There’s real history between these two teams. That’s why you should tune in for the season opener.
There’s a hiccup, though: The Sparks are really short-handed. Candace Parker is out six weeks with a torn meniscus. And both Jantel Lavender and Maria Vadeeva are finishing their contracts overseas before they return to the states to play for the Sparks. Ogwumike has only been back from Russia for about a week. L.A. hasn’t had all its players in for training camp and is figuring things out on the fly.
The Lynx should have this early season matchup in the bag, but you never know how these things go. Here’s how you can watch the season opener on Sunday:
Minnesota Lynx vs. Los Angeles Sparks
Time: 5 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN 2
Live Stream: Watch ESPN