Napheesa Collier and Courtney Williams lead Minnesota Lynx to win over Los Angeles Sparks

On Friday night, the Minnesota Lynx beat the Los Angeles Sparks 81-76. With 15 points and 10 assists, Courtney Williams had her first double-double of the year. Meanwhile, Napheesa Collier scored 30 points and recorded a career-high eight steals. 

Minnesota Lynx have won six of their last seven games and three in a row. Williams also ended with four steals and eight rebounds. For Minnesota, Alanna Smith scored twelve points, while Bridget Carleton contributed eleven.

Los Angeles Sparks were led by rookie Rickea Jackson, the No. 4 selection in the 2024 draft, who finished with her first double-double of the season (19 points, 10 rebounds). Williams' 3-pointer put Minnesota up for good, and two minutes later, Carleton added another to finish a 9-2 run that put the score at 57-50 with three minutes remaining in the third quarter. After Lexie Brown's layup with 7:33 remaining, the Sparks (4-9) narrowed their deficit to 63-61; but, Williams' pull-up jumper 24 seconds later prevented LA from getting any closer.

Additions included 16 points and 11 rebounds from Dearica Hamby, who on Thursday agreed to a one-year contract extension with Los Angeles. In the end, Brown scored 12 points, while Aari McDonald scored 14 with seven assists.

Minnesota Lynx dominated the game

Brown's layup with 3:01 left in the second quarter increased the advantage to 40-28, but Williams responded with a pull-up jumper, and Napheesa Collier scored Minnesota's next nine points to make it a one-possession game before Hamby's layup gave the Sparks a 44-39 halftime lead.

The Lynx then came out after halftime and limited the Sparks to 6-for-20 shooting in the third quarter, outscoring them 20-12 to lead 59-56 heading into the fourth. The Lynx went on an 18-6 run to grab a 57-50 lead after Carleton hit his third three-pointer of the game. But the Sparks outscored the Lynx 6-2 in the last minute of the quarter, cutting Minnesota's advantage to three.