McBride’s Fourth-Quarter Surge Lifts Lynx Past Sparks 82–66 for Third Straight Win

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Kayla McBride poured in a season-high 29 points — including 15 in the fourth quarter — to lead the Minnesota Lynx to an 82–66 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday night, extending their winning streak to three games.

The Lynx (12–1) were without star forward Napheesa Collier, the reigning 2024 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, who missed the game after leaving early in the third quarter of Minnesota’s win over Las Vegas on Tuesday due to injury.

McBride shot 9-of-13 from the field and 5-of-7 from beyond the arc in a red-hot performance. Courtney Williams added 18 points along with six assists and four steals. Maria Kliundikova contributed across the board with 12 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and two blocks.

The game turned in the fourth quarter. After Sarah Ashlee Barker gave Los Angeles a 59–58 lead with a 3-pointer at the 7:43 mark, the Lynx responded immediately. Kliundikova’s layup reclaimed the lead, McBride followed with a triple and a three-point play, and Williams nailed a pull-up jumper to put Minnesota ahead by nine with 4:48 left. The Sparks never recovered.

Dearica Hamby briefly cut the deficit to seven, but back-to-back 3-pointers from Alanna Smith and McBride sealed the win for Minnesota.

For the Sparks (4–10), Kelsey Plum led with 15 points — 11 of which came in the first half, including a last-second layup before halftime to give Los Angeles a 35–34 lead. Hamby added 13 points and four steals, while Azura Stevens chipped in with 11 points and nine rebounds.

Los Angeles has now dropped 16 of its last 18 matchups against Minnesota, who also defeated the Sparks 89–75 in Los Angeles on May 18 and 101–78 at home last weekend.

Up Next:
The Sparks will visit the Chicago Sky on Tuesday, while the Lynx travel to face the Washington Mystics.