The took care of business against Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings in their season-opener without two key starters: Kayla McBride (Not with team for personal reasons) and Alanna Smith (Thigh injury). They flew straight from Dallas to Los Angeles, to visit their old nemesis, the , but that was still enough time for Smith to return to the starting lineup.

Lan said hello by splashing in a three pointer just minutes into the game.

The first quarter was a telltale sign of what was to come for the Sparks. President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach Cheryl Reeve had her team playing frenetic defense, forcing two early turnovers that resulted in a quick 7-point Lynx lead. The defense was especially trained on , who had just set a WNBA season-opener record of 37 points by playing all 40 minutes against the San Francisco Valkyries less than 48 hours ago.

Where the Lynx defense bent was by letting Azurá Stevens bomb away from perimeter. She scored 12 of Los Angeles’ first 17 points. LA was able to take a three-point lead of their own due to aggressive paint touches, but that would match their biggest lead of the game.

Both teams shot well from the field in the first half. Minnesota’s offense sputtered at times, but often opted for halfcourt sets in contrast to Los Angeles, who raced up and down the court. responded with eight straight points to regain a control of the game.

Stevens got loose in the first, while Dearica Hamby poured in 11 points in the second quarter. Collier had answers for each of them, ending the second with a five-point spurt to help the Lynx take a slim 46-45 lead at half.

Reeve surely had a spirited halftime “talk” with her team.

“Cheryl always... let us know,” Courtney Williams said with a big smile on her face in the post game press conference. The Lynx came out with their hair on fire, forcing another pair of early turnovers against the Sparks. This led to easy transition points, building their lead back up to around eight or nine where it lived for the rest of the game. Minnesota was quick on rotations and aggressive with ball pressure.

Meanwhile, their halfcourt sets continued to slice up LA’s defense thanks to pristine off ball cuts and vintage high-low passion. Williams, who had to deal with the aggressive full court harassment by former Lynx Odyssey Sims, chipped in three triples in the third quarter as well. “Trust the work,” Williams said about her perimeter shooting. That was able to counteract the early team foul trouble that Minnesota faced, falling into the penalty with 5:07 in the third period and giving up nine free throw attempts.

The Sparks threw their best (and final) punches early in the fourth quarter. They battled all the way back to within five points twice, but each time, the Lynx responded. The first time, Smith drilled a corner trey ball. The second time, it was former Sparks player Karlie Samuelson that dialed one in from deep.

The game truly got sealed shut on the ensuing play, where Smith canned her fourth bomb as Samuelson simultaneously drew a loose ball foul on Plum, resulting in a four-point play and Plum’s fourth foul. Shortly afterwards, Samuelson drew another foul from Plum, this time by catching Plum holding onto her on the offensive end. New coach Lynne Roberts challenged the foul, but was unsuccessful.

After the game, Alanna Smith told Canis Hoopus that the team’s goal is to focus on this season’s journey as opposed to what happened last year. Much has been made about the Lynx “revenge tour,” but in reality, every single is very different. Williams also shared that they even though they have many of the same pieces on the team as last season, they feel they’re even better with the addition of Jessica Shepard and Alissa Pili (DNP - CD), and if they want to get further than last season, they have to play better than a year ago.

That said, it’s been a great start to this season’s journey.

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Lynx fans have been waiting for seven months since their last (non-preseason) game at Target Center. Minnesota travels back home for round two versus the on at 7:00 PM CT. The stadium will surely be backed, as Minnesota’s very own Paige Bueckers will play her first professional game in Minneapolis.