The Los Angeles Sparks won in the first round of the WNBA playoffs Tuesday night at Staples Center.
After facing off in each of the last two WNBA Finals, these rivals squared off in a setting entirely new to both franchises, but with the same Game 5 feel — a single-elimination opening round playoff game.
Nneka Ogwumike (16 points, five rebounds) returned to the starting lineup for the Sparks after missing Sunday’s regular season finale due to illness. The Lynx faithful did not receive good news on their injury report, however, as starting power forward Rebekkah Brunson missed her seventh consecutive game as she continues to recover from a concussion suffered in an August 5 game against the Atlanta Dream.