{"id":4238,"date":"2025-06-22T03:45:09","date_gmt":"2025-06-22T03:45:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/4238\/"},"modified":"2025-06-22T03:45:09","modified_gmt":"2025-06-22T03:45:09","slug":"kelsey-plum-returns-but-sparks-lose-their-third-straight-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/4238\/","title":{"rendered":"Kelsey Plum returns, but Sparks lose their third straight game"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

MINNEAPOLIS\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Kayla McBride scored 15 of her season-high 29 points in the fourth quarter, Courtney Williams added 18 points and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Sparks 82-66<\/a> on Saturday night for their third straight win.<\/p>\n

Napheesa Collier did not play for the Lynx (12-1). The 2024 WNBA defensive player of the year, Collier left early in the third quarter of Minnesota\u2019s 76-62 win over Las Vegas on Tuesday and did not return.<\/p>\n

McBride made nine of 13 from the field, five of seven from three-point range, and Williams finished with six assists and four steals. Maria Kliundikova had 12 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks for Minnesota.<\/p>\n

Sarah Ashlee Barker<\/a> hit a three-pointer that gave the Sparks<\/a> a 59-58 lead with 7:43 remaining in the game. Kliundikova answered with a layup 24 seconds later, McBride added a three-pointer and a three-point play and Williams made a pull-up jumper with 4:48 left that gave Minnesota a nine-point lead. Dearica Hamby<\/a> made a layup to cut the deficit to seven before Alanna Smith and McBride hit threes 31 seconds apart about a minute later.<\/p>\n

Kelsey Plum<\/a> scored 11 of her 15 points in the first half, including a layup with 0.2 second left in the second quarter that gave the Sparks a 35-34 lead at halftime. Plum returned to the starting lineup after not playing in a loss to Seattle on Tuesday because of a leg injury. Hamby finished with 13 points and four steals and Azur\u00e1 Stevens<\/a> had 11 points and nine rebounds.<\/p>\n

The Sparks (4-10) have lost 16 of their last 18 against the Lynx, who beat the Sparks 89-75 in Los Angeles on May 18 and 101-78 at home last Saturday.<\/p>\n

Up next: <\/b>The Sparks play at Chicago on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

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