The Los Angeles Sparks and Minnesota Lynx are one win away from meeting in the WNBA Finals after double-digit victories in the first two games of their respective semifinal series.
The defending champion Lynx are seeking their fourth crown in six years, buoyed by a quartet that won Olympic gold with the U.S. national team in Rio. The Sparks have a shot at their first title since 2002 behind league MVP Nneka Ogwumike and two-time MVP Candace Parker.
In St. Paul, Minnesota, Maya Moore scored 26 points, Lindsay Whalen had 12 of her 16 points in the fourth quarter and the Lynx beat the Phoenix Mercury 96-86 Friday night. Diana Taurasi had 31 points for the Mercury, who lost the series opener by 15 points.
In Los Angeles, Parker had 20 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in the Sparks’ 99-84 win over the Chicago Sky. Ogwumike added 18 points.
Reserve Clarissa Dos Santos scored 15 points and Jamierra Faulkner added 14 off the bench for the Sky, who lost Game 1 by 20 points.