When Sparks rookie guard Sarah Ashlee Barker made both of her free throws for a modest two-point lead just two minutes and 12 seconds into their game Saturday against the Minnesota Lynx, it appeared the Sparks might be rolling for a second consecutive game.
And then the wheels fell off.
The Lynx proceeded to outscore the Sparks by 34 points in the first half en route to a 101-78 thrashing in a WNBA Commissioner’s Cup game in Minneapolis.
It is the most points the Sparks have given up all season, eclipsing Las Vegas’ total in a 96-81 Sparks loss May 30, and the highest allowed since a 103-68 home loss to the New York Liberty in August.
Minnesota went on a 15-0 scoring run in the first quarter, which ended with the Sparks trailing by 19. It also rattled off 10 consecutive points in the second quarter that led to a 58-26 advantage at the half.
In addition to 12 first-half turnovers, the Sparks hit just seven of 30 shots (23.3%) from the field while the Lynx shredded the nets at a 23-of-35 clip (65.7% ).
Minnesota (10-1) was a handful for the Sparks in their home opener May 18, doling out an 89-75 loss in which the Sparks suited up only seven players. In that game, Napheesa Collier scored 12 of her 23 points in the first quarter.
On Saturday, the 6-foot-1 forward started quickly again with 16 points in the opening frame, outscoring the Sparks who trailed 34-15. Her 26 first-half points – on 10-of-12 shooting to go with six rebounds and six assists – matched the Sparks’ team total.
The four-time WNBA All-Star finished with 32 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
The Sparks (4-8) were coming off their season-best offensive output Wednesday in a 97-89 road victory over the Las Vegas Aces, in which second-year forward Rickea Jackson scored a career-high 30 points.
On Saturday, Jackson finished with 18 points with guard Kelsey Plum scoring a team-high 20. Emma Cannon added a season-high 14 points and Dearica Hamby had 10 points and 12 rebounds.
The Sparks did claw back, outscoring Minnesota 25-20 in the third quarter and cutting the deficit to 88-69 with 4:40 to play, but their fate had been sealed.
The Sparks came into the game without guards Julie Allemand, who is overseas playing for Belgium in FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2025, and Odyssey Sims, who missed the game for personal reasons.
They began the season without forward Cameron Brink, the former No. 2 overall pick who is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered in her rookie season last year. And in their season opener May 16, guard Rae Burrell went down with a right knee injury that is supposed to keep her sidelined for six to eight weeks.
The Sparks will wrap up Commissioner’s Cup play with a home game against the Seattle Storm on Tuesday.
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