Game 2 Western Conference Finals Minnesota and Sparks A Battle Royal

Story by L.T.Willis

Los Angeles Sparks' #3 Candace Parker and Minnesota Lynx's # 23 Maya Moore
Game 2 of The Western Conference Finals. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

Game 2 of The Western Conference Finals will go down as one of the greatest games in WNBA Western Conference Finals history between the Los Angeles Sparks and The Minnesota Lynx played at The Staple Center. In front of a national televise game on Sunday, what was witness by every fan in attendance, two mega stars Candace Parker and Maya Moore gave them their money worth. The WNBA should be jumping for joy too have such a great game on national TV and watch the Minnesota Lynx defeat the Los Angeles Sparks 80-79 in Game of The Western Conference Finals go down to the wire. This game gave fans a chance to see what was in store for the future of the league, and what Larry Bird and Magic Johnson did for the NBA, Candace Parker and Maya Moore have now done for the WNBA on this Sunday afternoon, should take the league to the next level.

Minnesota Lynx's #13 Lindsey Whalen drives to the basket against Los Angeles
Sparks' #30 Nneka Ogwumike. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

Before the game started Coach Ross was awarded the Coach of The Year Award and Nneka Ogwumike was awarded The Rookie of The Year Award. The biggest question for the Sparks is what kind of energy would they bring to Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. That question was answer with Candace Parker coming out the gate blazing in the first  quarter shot 3 for 3 from the floor for six points and three rebounds and Kristi Toliver 2 of 5 for four points. Minnesota's Lindsey Whalen lead the way with seven points, Maya Moore five points, while Rebekkah Brunson four points and five rebounds, Taj McWilliams-Franklin and Seimone Augustus both had four points gave the Lynx a eight point lead 25-17 at the end of the first quarter.

Los Angeles Sparks' #3 Candace Parker scored 18 points
and 10 rebounds in the first half. Photo by Eric Wade/
T.G.Sports.

In the second quarter Minnesota was leading by twelve points and Candace Parker had seen enough. She began to go to work on every shot you could think off, baby hook, jump shot, fade away, put backs and attacking the rim, with some great team defense, and help from Alana Beard and Kristi Toliver help the Sparks get back in the game, and helped the Sparks over come getting blown out and at half time trailed 40-39. You have to credit Candace Parker who had 18 points and 10 rebounds and her team mates  for battling Minnesota  on the boards, had a 19 to 12 advantage rebounding, was the key for Sparks to come from behind, while Maya Moore was just 2 for 8 from the floor with 8 points.

The Sparks' defense clamped down on the Minnesota to help
them get back in the game. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G Sports.

The Sparks defense came to life and started a 17-0 run, and really got into Maya Moore face with Alana Beard and DeLisha-Milton Jones and slowed down Seimone Augustus, and  got a break when Rebekkah Brunson went out due to foul trouble, allow the Sparks too push their lead to thirteen points in the third quarter. Lindsay Whalen was just 5 for 11 from the floor,  yet still had 13 points to help the Lynx stay in the game. Candace Parker's 26 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assist was just too much for Minnesota  along with Alana Beard 15 points and Kristi Toliver 14 points led 65-57 at the end of the third quarter.

The Minnesota Lynx  takes a time out to regroup before they go back on the court.
Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

During a time out Minnesota's coach Cheryl Reeve told her players that ten points is nothing, but we have to take care of the ball because now ever possession is important and we have to defend much better. The Sparks fans were going crazy cheering their team on with a ten point lead,  saw why the Minnesota Lynx are the defending WNBA Champions. Seimone Augustus started the come back with a fourteen feet jump shot and a four feet jumper along with two three pointers from Maya Moore with they trailed 70-69 with 7:08 left into the fourth quarter.

Minnesota's Maya Moore hit two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help her team
rally back and be down 70-69. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

With about two minutes left in the game the Sparks were trailing Minnesota 77-76 and it was nervous time at The Staple Center as they saw two great teams go down to the wire. Candace Parker came down the court and nailed a three point shot with 1:25 to give them a 79-77 lead and a timeout called by Minnesota. In the time out Sparks head coach Carol Ross told her players no fouls and don't give up the three. Somehow the Sparks defenders lost sight of Monica Wright right in front of their own bench hit a three pointer with 1:14 left to give Minnesota a 80-79.

Minnesota'#22 Monica Wright hit the game winning 3- point
shot to beat the Sparks 80-79 in Game 2 of the Western
Conference Finals. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

The Sparks had one more chance left in the game with about six seconds after a time out. Alana Beard had the ball and her jumper hit the rim and Minnesota defeated the Sparks 80-70 to advance for a second time straight to the WNBA Finals. Candace Parker finish with 33 points, 15 rebounds,5 assist and 4 block shots, Kristi  Toliver 16 points and Alana Beard 15 points and 7 assist. Minnesota's Seimone Augustus had 21 points, Maya Moore 20 points and Lindsay Whalen 17 points. The Sparks out rebounded Minnesota 39-23 for the game, but miss shots in the closing minutes prove to be too costly for them to over come, and a one point loss in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals.

The Los Angeles Sparks have nothing to be a shame of. This team has new players playing together for the first time ever, under a brand new coach Carol Ross and her coaching staff, with a new offensive system to learn, and you go toe to toe with the defending champs, you better lace up those shoe strings and get ready for next season. I can't wait till next season. What the Sparks players will  learn from this game is a valuable lesson, for you to become a champion you must think and play smart like  a champion, and with this lost they will grow up and learn how to become champion. For more photos of this game go to www.tgsportstv.com, click on photo gallery 2 and go to Minnesota @ L.A. Sparks. All photo are by Eric Wade/ T.G.Sports and EW Gems Images.