Lynx on the rise, won't 'settle' with Sparks up next

Hanging 100 points on the two-time defending WNBA champions didn't provide nearly enough satisfaction for the Minnesota Lynx.

Coming off its best offensive performance of the season, Minnesota will try to keep raising the bar on Friday when it faces the Los Angeles Sparks in Minneapolis.

The Lynx (9-3) faced little resistance during Tuesday's 100-86 victory over the Las Vegas Aces, posting season highs in points in regulation, assists (34) and 3-point percentage (55.6 percent). All five Minnesota starters scored at least 14 points, with Alanna Smith (18 points) and Kayla McBride (16) leading the way.

It marked the fifth win in six games for the Lynx, who don't plan on taking their foot off the gas anytime soon.

"There's always room for improvement," Smith said. "We're never going to settle."

Los Angeles (4-8) also appeared to be finding its footing, winning back-to-back games for the first time this season before falling 95-79 to the Seattle Storm on Tuesday. Reserve Li Yueru led the Sparks with 18 points, while Dearica Hamby chipped in 16 to go along with 11 rebounds.

Hamby was named Western Conference Player of the Week prior to the meeting with Seattle, and she ended up signing a one-year contract extension with Los Angeles on Thursday. She leads the WNBA in double-doubles with 10 and is tied for the league lead in rebounds per game with 11.4.

"I'm grateful for finding a home in L.A. with an ownership group and organization that believes in me and has been nothing but supportive since the day I got here," Hamby said in a statement. "I look forward to continuing to build with my teammates and getting the Sparks back to the standard that has been historically set."

Thursday marks the second meeting of the season between the teams, and Hamby was the Sparks' only player to score in double figures (17 points, 11 rebounds) when Minnesota beat Los Angeles 86-62 on June 5.

Napheesa Collier went for 25 points and nine boards in that contest for the Lynx, and she has averaged 17.7 points and 10.7 rebounds in three games since.

Minnesota will be opening a four-game homestand on Wednesday as the Sparks continue a season-long, seven-game road trip that started with the setback against the Storm.

--Field Level Media