Something strange is developing at Target Center.
The Lynx, a WNBA doormat the past several seasons, is 4-0 after beating Phoenix 94-83 on Saturday before an announced 6,914 fans.
The Mercury came into the game 0-3, with all three losses by five points or fewer to playoff-caliber teams. But Phoenix was the defending league champion, with stars Cappie Pondexter and Diana Taurasi in its backcourt.
Both guards were averaging more than 20 points and, before the game, were announced as selections to the U.S. Olympic team, as was Lynx star Seimone Augustus.
Augustus had a team-high 22 points against the Mercury, but she is counted on to score like that. This season she has help -- lots of it.
Rookies Charde Houston and Candice Wiggins, longtime friends who grew up in San Diego, were productive coming off the bench. Each had a double-double for the first time as professionals.
Houston, an undersized 5-11 forward, had 18 points and 13 rebounds. And Wiggins, playing point guard much of the game, had 17 points and 12 assists -- two shy of the team record. The Mercury, as a team, had 13 assists.
"It was easy when you have players that find ways to score," said Wiggins, stunned when told her assist numbers. "So it's really not me. It's just me finding the person.
