The 2016 WNBA Finals, featuring the league’s two best teams — each with a win under their belt — now shifts to the West Coast. “It was probably one of our best games as far as energy in the Playoffs,” said Lynx forward Maya Moore after her team’s Game 2 win. Lynx Assistant Coach Jim Petersen told the MSR after Tuesday’s game, “If we play defense like we played tonight, we can win a championship.”
“If we can win one in L.A.,” that would send the deciding game back to Minneapolis, noted Lynx “super-fan” Tonyus Chavers. Moore also stated that she and her fellow teammates didn’t allow the first game loss to linger too long: “This team bounces back well, and you can’t stay down for too long when you’re on this team. I’m a part of that, of wanting to come in and bring that energy.”
“I don’t like to be angry, but if that’s what it takes to win a championship, so be it,” added Lynx guard Seimone Augustus.
The question is, can Los Angeles regroup after their loss on Tuesday? “I’m hoping we’ll learn a lot” and are ready for Friday’s game, said Sparks Coach Brian Agler. “Our focus right now is to win one more game. We want to win one more game, and then we’ll see where we stand and we’ll go from there.”
“We need to limit their transition and limit easy baskets,” said Minnesota’s Janel McCarville of the opposing team.
The Lynx have “to play a little better — nothing special,” added Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson. Their hosts, she predicted, won’t back down. “It’s their home court. They are going to play hard,” she said.
Game 3 is Friday, 7 pm CST on ESPN2.
Read our continuous coverage of the 2016 WNBA Finals on MSR News Online.
Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.
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