Minnesota Lynx forward Myisha Hines-Allen passes the ball down court during Thursday’s season ending game against the Los Angeles Sparks at Target Center. Photo by Abe Booker III/Sportspage Magazine
Los Angeles forward Dearica Hamby scored 20 points and forward Rickea Jackson added 19 points and eight rebounds as the Sparks upended the Minnesota Lynx 68-51 in front of 7,908 at Target Center to conclude the 2024 regular season.
Both teams dealt with shortened lineups as Lynx forward Napheesa Collier and guard Kayla McBride did not dress for the game in order to get rest before the playoffs begin on Sunday. Lynx forward Dorka Juhasz also did not dress while being treated for a bruised right foot. Los Angeles was without Cameron Brink (left knee); Lexie Brown (Crohn’s Disease); Layshia Clarendon (mental health). Aari McDonald did not dress to deal with soreness in her right ankle. The Lynx re-signed guard Olivia Epoupa, who was traded to Washington in the deal to acquire Myisha Hines-Allen midway through the season.
Jackson scored the game’s first points, two free throws, after getting fouled by Minnesota center Alanna Smith. After that, Lynx forward Diamond Miller scored the game’s next five points, a layup followed by a three-pointer to give the home team the 5-2 advantage with 8:13 left in the opening quarter.
Hamby was fouled by Minnesota guard Courtney Williams. Her two free throws made the score 5-4 in favor of the Lynx. The Sparks went 0-for-7 from the field until Hamby was able to convert a steal into a fast break layup with 5:45 remaining in the first quarter to give the Sparks the 6-5 lead.
Minnesota Lynx center Alanna Smith picks off a pass intended for Los Angeles Sparks center Li Yueru during Thursday’s game at Target Center. Smith scored a fast break layup on the play. Photo by Abe Booker III/Sportspage Magazine
The Sparks used the steal and fast break layup as fuel for a run. Center Azura Stevens made a layup immediately after receiving the tip off from a jump ball between Miller and Sparks guard Rae Burrell. Then Hamby turned another steal into a fast break layup. Los Angeles was on an 8-0 run and showed no signs of slowing down.
Lynx guard Bridget Carleton hit a three-pointer with 4:28 remaining in the first quarter, but Stevens answered with one just seconds later. Jackson and Hamby each made layups and suddenly the Sparks were out front 17-8.
Smith made a three-pointer and guard Cecilia Zandalasini hit a floating bank shot to keep the home team in the game. It was 19-13 in favor of the Los Angeles at the quarter break.
The Sparks continue to show momentum when Jackson blocked a Zandalasini shot and drove the length of the court to make an uncontested three-pointer as the second quarter began.
On the next possession, Jackson passed to center Li Yueru which was picked off by Smith, who made a fast break layup. Smith made a free throw after getting fouled by Yueru, making the score 22-16 in favor of the Sparks with 9:11 left in the half.
Los Angeles acted like they were unstoppable. They pushed a 10-0 run with three-pointers from Jackson and guard Kia Nurse, a reverse layup from Hamby and a jump shot by Jackson, extending their lead to 32-16 in the next three minutes.
Los Angeles Sparks center Li Yueru pulls down a rebound while Minnesota Lynx forward Diamond Miller gets set to defend during Thursday’s season finale at Target Center. Photo by Abe Booker III/Sportspage Magazine
Even though Minnesota was without Collier, McBride and Juhasz, the Lynx attitude all year has been “next woman up.” It took until the middle of the second quarter for Minnesota to find momentum, but it started with a three-pointer by forward Alissa Pili, the team’s first round draft pick and a fan favorite. Guard Natisha Hiedeman made a put back layup on a Pili missed shot, then Hines-Allen converted six free throws on three consecutive trips to the free throw line. The 12-2 Minnesota run made the score 34-28 in favor of the Sparks with 1:34 left in the half. The Sparks led 38-30 at the half.
Los Angeles guard Odyssey Sims scored on a fast break running layup to get things going in the third quarter. That was answered by a three-pointer by Carleton, making the score 40-33 in favor of the Sparks with 8:45 left in the quarter.
Then the game got stuck. Literally.
The Sparks missed their next five shots and committed three turnovers. The Lynx missed their next four shots and turned the ball over twice. Neither team could hold on to the ball or make a basket. The officials weren’t calling fouls either. Los Angeles outrebounded Minnesota 6-3 during this 3:14 stretch, which ended when Hamby made another layup.
Minnesota managed to push a short 7-0 run on a layup from Pili, a midrange jumper from Williams, and a three-pointer from Hiedeman. Once again, Hamby answered with a layup and free throw after getting fouled by Pili and Jackson made a short jumper to keep the Lynx just out of reach.
Pili and Zandalasini each made layups to try to keep it close but were thwarted by a three-pointer by forward Stephanie Talbot to end the quarter. It was 53-44 in favor of the Sparks. Both teams shot less than 40 percent in the quarter.
Minnesota Lynx guard Natisha Hiedeman shoots past the outstretched arms of Los Angeles Sparks guard Kia Nurse during Thursday’s season finale at Target Center. Photo by Abe Booker III/Sportspage Magazine
The game stalled again in the beginning of the fourth quarter. Neither team could find the bottom of the basket. Combined, the teams went 0-for-6 with four turnovers in the first 2:31 before Courtney Williams hit a three-pointer in front of the Sparks bench. She was fouled by Burrell on the shot and converted a free-throw for a four-point play. The Lynx now had a five-point deficit, trailing 53-48 with 7:29 left in the game.
However, Nurse decided that she was going to be the player to step up for Los Angeles. Hamby was fouled by Smith and went to the line, converting one of two free throws. Then Nurse hit a three-pointer, Burrell made a three-pointer, and Nurse connected on two more treys. Nurse scored nine points during the Sparks 13-0 run. They now led 66-48 with 2:48 remaining on the clock.
Miller was fouled by Nurse but only converted one free throw. This was answered by a layup from Hamby. Then Miller went to the line twice more after getting fouled by Talbot and again by Jackson. She made only two of the four free throws. Los Angeles won 68-51 when the final buzzer sounded. Minnesota was held to seven total points in the fourth quarter.
Los Angeles went 25-for-59 (42.7 percent) from the field; 10-for-31 (32.3 percent) from three-point range; and 8-for-9 (88.9 percent) from the free throw line. They committed 20 turnovers which led to 22 Minnesota points.
“[It was a] fun way to end the season. [I’m] really proud of these guys to keep competing all the way through Game 40 when the season hasn’t gone exactly like we would liked it to have,” said Sparks head coach Curt Miller. “They came in and prepared for this one last game and played hard and confidently. It’s our first double-digit win of the season. [I’m] really proud of them on how we defended and held them under 30 percent shooting for the game.”
Los Angeles Sparks center Azurá Stevens tries to drive past Minnesota Lynx forward Bridget Carleton during Thursday’s season finale at Target Center. Photo by Abe Booker III/Sportspage Magazine
Minnesota went 16-for-56 (28.6 percent) from the field; 7-for-23 (30.4 percent) from three-point range; and 12-for-16 (75.0 percent) from the charity stripe. They turned the ball over 18 times for 19 Sparks points.
“We weren’t that difficult to play against, unfortunately,” said Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve. “We just couldn’t cash in at the rim. You gotta score down there. Fourth quarter was disappointing. We cut it to five but didn’t score after that…We had seven points in the fourth quarter. That’s pretty rough.”
Los Angeles had the 30-14 advantage in points-in-the paint, and a 4-3 edge in second chance points. Minnesota had the 9-6 lead in fast break points.
“We’ve got a special locker room of people. I think you win with great character. You win with great people. That locker room is filled with those types of players,” said Miller.
The Sparks were led by Dearica Hamby’s 20 points; 19 points and eight rebounds from Rickea Jackson; 12 points from Kia Nurse; and nine assists from Odyssey Sims.
The Lynx were led by eight points each from Diamond Miller and Alissa Pili. Alanna Smith led in rebounding with eight boards. Smith and Natisha Hiedeman paced the Lynx with three assists each.
Since this game concluded the regular season for both teams, the Los Angeles Sparks finished the season with an 8-32 record, the last place team in the WNBA. They will not advance to postseason play, instead will be getting ready for the WNBA Draft Lottery which will let them know if the land the top pick in the 2025 draft or not.
The Minnesota Lynx concluded the season with a 30-10 record, good for the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. They will face the No. 7 seed Phoenix Mercury (19-21) in the first round starting at 4 p.m. Sunday at Target Center in Minneapolis.
