Mitchell Hansen
Web Editorial Associate
Twitter
7 p.m., Xcel Energy Center
Where to Watch: Fox Sports North Plus, NBATV
Where to Listen: 106.1 BOB FM
The top two teams in the WNBA will square off on Friday night at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
The Minnesota Lynx come into the game at 21-3 overall and sit atop the WNBA standings. The Los Angeles Sparks enter at 18-7 on the season and are in second place.
Here are a few tidbits as we enter the showdown Friday night:
- The Lynx will unveil their new logo with a live painting during halftime of the game. Fans in attendance will also receive a pint glass with the new logo.
- Minnesota holds a 3.5 game lead over Los Angeles for the best record in the WNBA.
- The Lynx are 11-1 overall this season in front of their home crowd. The Sparks are 6-6 on the road in 2017.
Coming Off Of…
Minnesota is coming off of an 81-72 win over the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday in Atlanta.
Sylvia Fowles had 27 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks and Maya Moore had 16 points and four assists to lead the Lynx. Renee Montgomery had 13 points and six assists, Rebekkah Brunson had 10 points and nine rebounds and Seimone Augustus and Plenette Pierson had five points each.
Los Angeles is coming off of an 85-79 loss to the Dallas Wings on Sunday in Arlington.
Nneka Ogwumike had 21 points and seven rebounds and Candace Parker had 21 points, nine rebounds and four steals to lead the Sparks. Odyssey Sims had 14 points, Chelsea Gray had 12 points and eight rebounds and Alana Beard had five points.
Last Matchup
Minnesota holds a 1-0 season series advantage over Los Angeles this season. The last matchup came on July 6 in St. Paul, with Minnesota winning 88-77.
In that game, Fowles had 20 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks and Montgomery had 20 points and four assists for the Lynx. Augustus had 16 points and five rebounds, Moore had 10 points, five rebounds and three steals and Pierson added nine points and five rebounds off the bench.
For the Sparks, Ogwumike had 27 points and 14 rebounds, Gray had 16 points, Beard had eight points and five assists and Essence Carson and Jantel Lavender had six points each.
Friday’s game is the second of three games between Minnesota and Los Angeles this season. The third matchup will come on Aug. 27 in Los Angeles.
Key Matchup: Sylvia Fowles vs. Candace Parker
One key matchup will come between two of the WNBA’s MVP candidates in Minnesota’s Sylvia Fowles and Los Angeles’ Candace Parker.
So far in 2017, Fowles is averaging 20.7 points (2nd in WNBA), 10 rebounds (2nd in WNBA), two blocks (2nd in WNBA), 1.4 steals (13th in WNBA) and 1.4 assists per game.
Parker is averaging 16.6 points (12th in WNBA), 8.4 rebounds (7th in WNBA), 4.5 assists (7th in WNBA), 1.9 blocks (4th in WNBA) and 1.5 steals (8th in WNBA) per game this season.
Injuries
Los Angeles: Essence Carson (elbow) is questionable.
Minnesota: Lindsay Whalen (left hand) is out.
Projected Starters
Los Angeles: PG – Gray, SG – Sims, SF – Beard, PF – Ogwumike, C – Parker
Minnesota: PG – Montgomery, SG – Augustus, SF – Moore, PF – Brunson, C – Fowles