• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

WNBA Finals | Lynx, one point shy of making history, fall to Sparks

by Charles Hallman
October 21, 2016
5
SHARES
108
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn
After the Lynx's 77-76 Finals loss Oct. 20.
After the Lynx’s 77-76 Finals loss Oct. 20. (Charles Hallman/MSR News)

Minnesota came one defensive stop short of history. Nneka Ogwumike’s conversion of her missed jumper with two seconds left gave Los Angeles their first WNBA championship since 2002, a 77-76 win.

And the Lynx once again lost a chance to repeat as champions in an Olympic year — Minnesota lost to Indiana in 2012 after winning in 2011.

“Los Angeles showed up tonight.  We made runs and they responded. They made runs and we responded,” said Minnesota center Sylvia Fowles afterwards in a somber locker room after their second last-second loss in the series.

“It’s really tough,” admitted teammate Janel McCarville. “Both teams made plays — back and forth action.”

- ADVERTISEMENT -
1280x720_61018c00-opfsd-1
(MGN Online)

Minnesota’s inability to get a key stop when needed doomed them throughout Thursday’s contest that featured 24 lead changes and 11 ties. But the hosts never gave up, erasing an eight-point deficit with three minutes left, and going on a 8-0 run to tie the game at 71 with 1:29 left on the clock.

“We didn’t want to be down in the first place,” lamented Lynx guard Lindsay Whalen, who stole a Kristi Toliver pass and drove to the basket to score the tying basket in the late-quarter run when it looked like Minnesota would be done for the night. “We battled back.”

But trading baskets, something both teams did all night long, reared its ugly head as both teams once again went back and forth in the final minute or so: an Ogwumike turnaround jumper for the Sparks, then a 17-footer by Seimone Augustus. A chance to take the lead was lost, however, when Maya Moore missed a three-pointer. But Rebekkah Brunson crashed the offensive glass and drew both the ball and a foul.

The Lynx’s rebounding machine only converted one of two free throws, which put Minnesota up a by just a point, 74-73, with 23 seconds left. Candace Parker hit a lay-up four seconds later to put her club up a point. Moore later cashed in on a 16-footer to give the Lynx a short-lived one-point lead.

Then the last six seconds was an eternity: Chelsea Gray misfired on a jumper but Ogwumike got the offensive rebound. Fowles blocked her next attempt, but the forward again got her own rebound and this time she successfully cashed in.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

“The key to the game was rebounding. We didn’t get it down,” bemoaned Brunson afterwards.

Los Angeles won Game 1 on a buzzer beater, and won the deciding Game 5 in nearly the same fashion. As a result, Minnesota’s dreams of making history went down as well, finishing its season on a loss at home.

When a reporter asked how tough it was, “They are all tough when it’s the last one,” said Whalen softly. “They’re a great team. They beat us,” she conceded.

 

Look for more post-finals analysis on MSR News Online.com.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Gopher freshman athletes get a summer head start

Next Post

Protesters take to the streets of Edina to demand police accountability

Charles Hallman

Charles Hallman is a contributing reporter and award-winning sports columnist at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

You Might Also Like

Montgomery progressed from player to owner
Lynx/WNBA

Montgomery progressed from player to owner

Tamika Williams’ key to success is to ‘invest in the community’
Lynx/WNBA

Tamika Williams’ key to success is to ‘invest in the community’

Charde Houston brought her unique energy to the Lynx 
Lynx/WNBA

Charde Houston brought her unique energy to the Lynx 

Mama Taj let her play do the talking
Lynx/WNBA

Mama Taj let her play do the talking

For the Lynx, ‘Change Still Starts With Us”
Lynx/WNBA

For the Lynx, ‘Change Still Starts With Us”

Powers’ Lynx tenure marred by injuries
Lynx/WNBA

Powers’ Lynx tenure marred by injuries

Next Post
Protesters take to the streets of Edina to demand police accountability

Protesters take to the streets of Edina to demand police accountability

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Sep 12
September 12 @ 6:30 pm-December 18 @ 9:30 pm Recurring

Vic Volare Presents MUSIC FOR MARTINIS ft: Vic’s Fabulous Nightclub Academy

Sep 27
8:00 am-12:45 pm

It’s Time to Talk: Forums on Race™

Sep 27
7:30 pm-9:30 pm Recurring

Ayodele Casel Rooted

Sep 30
9:00 am-1:00 pm Recurring

Cars and Caves

View Calendar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Read our latest e-Edition!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: