Lynx need more than win over Sparks to reach Commissioner's Cup final

The Minnesota Lynx need a victory over the host Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday as well as some help in order to advance to the Commissioner's Cup championship game.

The Lynx (11-3) are tied with the Las Vegas Aces atop the Commissioner's Cup Western Conference standings at 5-1. Because they lost to the Aces on Saturday, they need a victory in Los Angeles and an Aces road loss to the Phoenix Mercury to have the tournament title game on June 30 added to their schedule.

Wednesday is the final day of Commissioner's Cup round-robin play.

After the loss over the weekend ended their eight-game winning streak, the Lynx rebounded with a convincing 107-74 home victory over the Portland Fire on Monday.

Seven Minnesota players scored in double figures, including all five starters. Natasha Howard led the group with 18 points while Courtney Williams added 16. Standout rookie Olivia Miles scored 12 points on efficient 6-of-8 shooting.

Minnesota shot 54.5% from the floor while scoring its second-most points in a game this season. Portland was held to 40.6% from the floor. The Lynx's bench added 32 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists.

"It's not surprising with our starters, right?" Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. "We spread it around with the starters, and then the bench, I thought they were focused."

While team defense has been an issue for the Sparks this season, it was their offense that was the problem in a 78-58 road loss to the Golden State Valkyries on Monday.

Los Angeles (7-7, 3-3 Commissioner's Cup) shot just 33.3% from the floor as high-scoring Kelsey Plum was held to a season-low nine points on 3-of-10 shooting. Plum, who went 1-for-4 from 3-point range, ranks second in the WNBA with 25.0 points per game.

Plum's rough night came after she scored a career-best 43 points in an overtime victory over the Mercury on Saturday.

Plum ended up fouling out midway through the fourth quarter. She remained on the floor despite foul trouble as the Sparks hoped in vain to extend their three-game winning streak.

"We were down 12 or 13 and had to roll the dice," Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts said, according to the Los Angeles Times. "It's not like time was on our side."

--Field Level Media