Preview: There are huge playoff implications in play. The change to the WNBA playoff format gives the two teams with the league's best overall records byes into the semifinals while teams three through eight have to play at least one single-elimination game to advance. Los Angeles has the league's best record (19-1). The Lynx are second at 17-4, just 1½ games ahead of third-place New York (16-6). The Lynx, with the WNBA's oldest roster, would benefit greatly from the byes. This is the final meeting of the season between these teams. Minnesota won the first 79-69, but lost the second 95-92 in OT, giving up a 15-point, fourth-quarter lead.
Gameday preview: New York at Lynx
July 15, 2016 at 3:30AM
Players to watch: Lynx G Seimone Augustus is expected to be back in the starting lineup after missing three games with a sore left knee. … G Lindsay Whalen has been terrific shooting the past two games, making 80 percent of her FG attempts en route to consecutive 22-point performances. … The Liberty have won four in a row and may be stronger since the last meeting. F Tina Charles, a MVP candidate averaging 22.2 points and 9. 3 rebounds, missed the last game with a broken nose. And F Rebecca Allen missed the first half of the season trying to help Australia qualify for the Olympics.
JIM PAULSEN
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Royce Lewis’ blazing start to his Twins career had him atop the ranking at the end of spring. But times have changed.
