(East Los Angeles, CA) May 22, 2022 [From The Editor’s Desk]: The Los Angeles Sparks did not disappoint their anxious home crowd and fan-base from around the country and the globe as they lost to the Minnesota Lynx in their home opener at the re-named Crypto.Com Arena. More than 4,000 were on hand for the first time in two seasons to see them play with many new additions to the team.

[VIPs Seated Courtside In Crypto.Com] Lisa Leslie, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, L.A. Laker, Carmelo “Melo” Anthony, and Leslie Jones (“Saturday Night Live” Player & Actress)

[Game Summary]: {1st Half} After getting off to a decent game start, the Sparks ere ahead of the Lynx by a score of (13-4). Then, at the (5:33) minute mark, it was time for the first Media Time Out (MTO) to be taken. The game was tied at (14-14) with (2:o4) left. Cambage had the first (5) points of the game, while Nneka Ogwumike had (7). The Lynx took the lead at (20-17) with (:51.9) seconds remaining. Canada made (2) free throws, moving the score to (22-19) Lynx. But, #21/Kayla McBride, was “on fire” from the 3-point line and hit another to close the scoring for the period, making it (25-19), Lynx. She had (12) in the period. 

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(Photo Gallery Credit): Erik Sarni, East L.A. Sports Scene Productions, LLC

{2nd Q}Sparks started with a 3 pointer, McBride answered with another 3 of her own, tying the game at 27. Samuelson then hit another 3-ball. Cambage was finding her range and hit a jumper. A (MTO) was called at (5:55) with the scoreboard reading, (Lynx 30-Sparks 27). Aerial Powers hit a trey after a Chiney Ogwumike bucket. C. Carter cut the score to (35-31) with (04:16) left in half. The Lynx stretched the lead to (40-31) after 4 successful free throws with (2:30) left. N. Ogwumike then scored plus 1 underneath at 02:45. She followed that up with a lay-in cutting the lead to 4, (42-38) with (01:21) left. Another series of free throws boosted the Lynx up to (46-38) before Canada closed out the Sparks half with a good jumper, bringing the score to (46-40), Lynx.

(HALFTIME): Lynx  46   Sparks  40

{3rd Qtr} N. Ogwumike opened the scoring with short Jumper in the key. Then a Lynx 3-pointer moved the score to  (49-42). After a time out, Brittney Sykes made a lay-up. Then Canada added one, making the score closer at (51-48) with (5:00) minutes left. After 2 free throws by C. Ogwumike it was (51-50). Canada scored on a dribble-drive and was fouled. The free throw missed left. Brown made it (55-53) but the Lynx tied it at (55-55) with 3:40 left. Brittney Spears stole a pass and was then fouled -in-the-act-of-shooting for a (57-55) lead. Moriah Jefferson then tied it at (57-57) with (02:15) left. Ogwumike swept in for a lay-up making the scoreboard read (59-57)..Point guard, M. Jefferson continued with hot 3-point shooting streak and gave the Lynx the lead back at (60-59). Lexie Brown, dropped a 3-ball giving the Sparks the lead back at (62-60) with (00:23.7) secs left. But the Sparks fouled Jefferson in the act of shooting and she made both to tie the game at (62-62). Brown then electrified the crowd with a huge trey from the corner, (65-62), Sparks, ending the period.

{4th Qtr}: The final period was played in a “back & forth” manner with a lot of baskets being traded, keeping the score rather close. The crowd was in a frenzy pulling for the Sparks to create some extra space and separation with “runs” down the stretch and on into victory lane. But, that was not the case. A lot of the Sparks action focused on the floor play of Sykes, Samuelson, with her timely 3 pointers, Chennedy Carter, with her driving lay-up attack mindset, and N. Ogwumike with her play under and around the basket, plus a huge tip-in basket that moved the score to (75-73) Sparks. Jefferson’s lay-up tied it at (75-75). But Carter sent her team back on top with a lay-up for (77-75). Jessica Shepard tied it again at 77. N. Ogwumike was called for an “Over-the-Back” foul at (3:45) left. The crowd was disapproving of the “ticky tack” fouls called on Ogwumike and let the refs know it. Shortly thereafter, N. Ogwumike was  fouled in the act-of-shooting and she made 2, keeping the lead, (79-78). But, Jefferson appeared again and McBride hit a bucket for their (80-79) lead. Fowles scored on a “put-back” underneath for the (82-79) advantage with (1:55) left in the game.

For Minnesota, they relied on the play of Fowles, Jefferson, and McBride who gritted it out to the very end with good offense and defense.

Here’s a description of the drama at the under (2:00) minute mark of “nitty-gritty” time. First, a time-out was called by the Sparks with (01:14) left. Brown then thrilled the crowd with a big 3-pointer to tie it at (82-82) with (00:53.3) left. Then, a time out was charged to the Lynx. McBride was still active and scored to get the lead back at (84-82). Cambage answered with a close turn-around jumper and was fouled, tying the game at (84-84) but she missed her free throw with (00:15.1) seconds left.

A final Time-out was then called by the Lynx with (00:14.3) left. On their ensuing play, McBride scored underneath, was fouled, and added the free throw making it (87-84), Lynx with just (00:2.1) seconds remaining. Coach Fisher called a (00:20) sec. time-out to set up their final play for either a clear, uncontested 3-point perimeter shot, or a long inbound pass to Cambage who would position herself near the basket and hope to score on an “And 1” forcing a tie and hopefully going into Overtime. But the play went awry when Samuelson’s sideline inbound pass that was aimed for Cambage near the basket hit the rim instead. The carom was tracked down by Canada for a final desperation 3-point shot but she missed and the game horn sounded. Game over.

(FINAL SCORE): Minnesota Lynx  87   L.A. Sparks  84  (ATTENDANCE): 4,701

(Next Up): At Crypto,Com Arena, Phoenix Mercury (2-4) overall record, on Wednesday, 5/25. Tip-off is set for 7:30 PM. Watch on Spectrum Sports Net.