Sparks' 15th Season Home Opener Gave Fans Plenty To Cheer About

Story by L.T.Willis



The Los Angeles Sparks hosted The Minnesota Lynx in their
WNBA 15th  Season Home Opener at The Staple Center.
Photo by Lawrence Enge.

 The Los Angeles Sparks open their season at home against the Minnesota Lynx and Maya Moore at The Staple Center and 13,589 fans had much to cheer about. Candace Parker one of the superstars had a chance to see first hand how good Maya Moore really is. Folks forget about her being a rookie Her first shot of the game was a 3 pointer to get things going for the Lynx. Candace Parker showed why she is one of the great ones  as it seem she could score at will as both teams where going up and down the court at will trying to establish a running game. It was like being in a playoff game as the crowd was really into it. Before you knew it Candace Parker had 18 points and Maya Moore had 5 points and at the end of the first quarter the Sparks and the Lynx were tied 18-18.

Minnesota Maya Moore first shot of the regular season hits a 3 pointer.
Photo by Lawrence Enge.

The Sparks' Candace Parker had 18 points in the first quarter against the
Minnesota Lynx. Photo by Lawrence Enge.





One of the things that was hurting the Sparks was Tina Thompson had pick up 3 quick fouls before she had to sit down score 4 points in the first quarter. In the second quarter the Lynx began to out rebound the Sparks and pick up the pace as Rebekkah Brunson and Taj McWilliams both score 6 points and the Minnesota led at halftime 43-37. If not for Kristi Toliver 3 pointer, Tina Thompson 7points and Candace Parker 5 points in the second quarter  the Lynx could have had a much bigger lead. During the pre season the Sparks would have big leads then allow teams to get right back in the game and had to depend on their bench to get the Sparks back in the game.

Sparks' Ebony Hoffman helps lead the comeback against Minnesota
Photo by Lawrence Enge.



Coach Gillom trailing by 9 points had to turn to her bench Ebony Hoffman, Kristi Toliver and Jenna O'Hea and they trigger the come comeback. Kristi Toliver and Ebony Hoffman both scored 6 points and Jenna O' Hea hit a big 3 point shot and now at the end of the third quarter the Sparks lead 59-57. In the fourth quarter Jenna O'Hea started out hitting another 3 pointer and had the fans Shouting and cheering " Go Sparks". Whatever coach Gillom said at half time the players must have been listening because what the Lynx did to the Sparks in the first half the Sparks start doing to them in the second half out rebounding the Lynx and started to pull away from them a Kristi Toliver7 foot bank shot and another 3 pointer from Jenna O'Hea the Sparks led 67-61 with 7:56 left in the fourth quarter.

Sparks' Kristi Toliver  outside shooting and defense was huge against
Minnesota. Photo by Lawrence Enge





Seimone Augustus hit a big 3 point shot to cut the lead to 67-63 and was doing all she could to help keep the Lynx within striking distance. The Sparks wasn't out of the wood just yet as the Lynx cut the lead to 2 points 75-73, but DeLisha Milton-Jones got foul on her made basket and  Tina Thompson and Candace Parker got foul and made their free throws and the Sparks held on to defeat the Lynx 82-74. Maya Moore led all scorers with 21points and Candace Parker finish with 19 points, Tina Thompson 15 points, Noelle Quinn and Kristi Toliver both had 11 points and Jenna O'Hea had 9 points. Also tonight WNBA's Commissioner Laura Ritchie was at the game to share here comments about the 15th season of the WNBA during halftime and Sparks' President Mike Levy shares his view about the season home opener victory against the Minnesota Lynx.