University of Minnesota Athletics
Whalen, Lynx Even WNBA Finals at Williams
9/26/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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The two best teams in the WNBA split the first two games of the league finals at Williams Arena. A late Chelsea Gray jumper for the Los Angeles Sparks foiled the Minnesota Lynx's Game 1 comeback, but the home team responded with a win in another tight game to even the series Tuesday night in Minneapolis.
A crowd of 11,823 attended Sunday's thriller on campus. The Lynx trailed by as much as 26, and still by 11 with five and half minutes left, before clawing all the way back to a one-point lead twice in the final minute. Gray sunk a 14-foot shot with two seconds left to boost the Sparks to an 85-84 win.
Four lead changes in the final minute!
Relive the stretch run from an instant classic Game 1, capped by @CGray209's game-winner #WNBAFinals pic.twitter.com/gRdCwFH2jB- WNBA (@WNBA) September 25, 2017
In Game 2, former Golden Gopher Lindsay Whalen started the Lynx on a better trajectory at her old arena. She scored Minnesota's first four points and helped her team to a 28-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.
"Whalen took a lot personally from Game 1, and she realized she wasn't aggressive enough," Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve said. "So she came out and really established herself and created openings for us. ... Lindsay set the tone. That's what Lindsay Whalen does."
.@Lindsay_13 opens Game 2 with the crafty reverse! #WNBAFinals pic.twitter.com/yS3AjypFyw
- WNBA (@WNBA) September 27, 2017
@Lindsay_13 just finds a way to lull you to sleep on defense, and make shots look so easy.... #WeezyForTwo 💅🏽 #WNBAFinals pic.twitter.com/vxgbCbleQs
- ChristyWintersScott (@ChristyWScott51) September 27, 2017
The Lynx held a comfortable lead for a while, but the Sparks started chipping into it. L.A. cut the lead to two with 33 seconds left in the game and had the ball out of bounds after a timeout with 13.4 seconds remaining. The Lynx forced a five-second call, but then committed a turnover of their own. Minnesota then came up with another turnover to seal the game at 70-68 in front of 11,434.
And after this Sylvia Fowles got her WNBA Finals-record 17th rebound. Big plays happening. https://t.co/UDiUgd6xbi
- Minnesota WBB (@GopherWBB) September 27, 2017
Blanket Lady's here. Or perhaps we should call her Towel Lady, because that's what she's running around with. #Lynx #LASparks
- Patrick Borzi (@BorzMN) September 27, 2017
Whalen scored a team-high 14 points in the game. She ranks fourth in WNBA history with 923 career playoff points. She continues to add to her career playoff assists record with 319 heading into Game 3.
"It's just two teams that are bringing it every night," Whalen said. "Our fans have enjoyed it. There have been some tense moments, but that's what the Finals are all about. It's the best women's basketball being played right now, here. We're happy to be part of it."
Okay, Whay! 👀 pic.twitter.com/abrZFgNXWh
- Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) September 27, 2017
👀👏🔥 pic.twitter.com/ZPfICmk86B
- Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) September 27, 2017
The Lynx will travel to L.A. for Games 3 and 4 on Sept. 29 and Oct. 1. If necessary, they will return to the University of Minnesota for Game 5 on Oct. 4.
