MINNEAPOLIS - Los Angeles Sparks shooting-guard Alana Beard scored only four points in the opening game of the 2016 WNBA Finals which opened Sunday at the newly-renovated Target Center.
But Beard nailed the field goal that mattered the most, a baseline jumper with 1.3 ticks to play, lifting the visiting Los Angeles Sparks to a 78-76 Game 1 triumph over the Minnesota Lynx before a stunned home crowd of 12,113.
"Give Beard credit for knocking it down, she was open. That was certainly a good play by them" Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve told the media during her post game press conference.
Besides getting a huge lift from Beard, the No.2 seeded Sparks effectively executed a game plan that slowed down 2014 MVP and scoring machine Maya Moore, who went 0-for-4 from the field in the first half.
Getting into early foul trouble didn't bode well for Minnesota as the Sparks took advantage by going to the free throw stripe 24 times, canning 19. Four Sparks chargers registered double figures in points led by 2016 MVP Nneka Ogwumike, who had 19 points and 8 rebounds.
Three-point specialist Kristi Tolver added 19 while Candace Parker contributed 14 points and 9 rebounds. while Kristi TJantel Lavender punched in 6-of-8 shots to finish with 12 for Los Angeles.
Sparks 'Parker (L) and Beard (R).
Three Lynx players --- Moore, Sylvia Fowles and Lindsay Whalen clocked in 18 points apiece but it wasn't enough to carry Minnesota, which shot 31 of 61 from the field but missed all four of its 3-point shots.
Game 1 turned out to be highly entertaining, one that featured 19 ties and 10 lead changes. During the halftime break, WNBA president Lisa Borders paraded the Top 20 players so far in the 20-year old league.
Among those honored included San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon, Moore, Whalen, Seimone Augustus and Candace Parker.
Game 2 is Tuesday night at Target Center.
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