Lynx break own WNBA record for best start in league history
Minnesota Lynx’s Maya Moore (23) passes over Seattle Storm’s Breanna Stewart, left, and Alysha Clark in the second half of a WNBA basketball game Sunday, May 22, 2016, in Seattle. The Lynx won 78-71. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
MINNEAPOLIS — Maya Moore scored 16 points to help the Minnesota Lynx break their own WNBA record with an 11th straight victory to start the season in an 87-63 win over the Indiana Fever on Tuesday night.
The Lynx surpassed their 2012 team that won the first 10 games.
Seimone Augustus added 12 points while Sylvia Fowles and Jia Perkins had 11 each for Minnesota, which is the unanimous choice as the No. 1 team in the AP WNBA power poll.
It was the fifth consecutive game Minnesota has had at least four players score in double figures.
“It’s just a team on a mission,” Indiana coach Stephanie White said about Minnesota. “I think the biggest factor for them, since last year, is adding Sylvia inside. She’s so dominant inside.”
Fowles was 4 of 7 from the field and grabbed eight rebounds as Minnesota shot 49 percent.
“The level and consistency of their play is really tremendous,” White added. “And the depth on their roster has only gotten better. Now they have scorers coming off the bench with that big anchor in the post. They’re balanced and they share the ball well. They’re a complete team.”
Minnesota has won its past 11 regular-season meetings with Indiana. The 24-point margin was the Lynx’s largest in the series.
The Lynx travel to Seattle on Sunday before consecutive games against Los Angeles. Minnesota will need to win all three to top the team record of 13 straight victories, which spanned the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
In other games, Washington beat Connecticut 109-106 in overtime, the Sparks set a club record with its 10th straight win — beating the Sky 98-85 — Liberty beat Wings 91-88 and the Stars had a 77-70 win over the Storm.
Emma Meesseman scored 23 points and Tayler Hill had 10 of her 21 points in the third overtime as Washington edged Connecticut.
It was the first three-overtime game in the WNBA since June 1, 2014.
At Los Angeles, Nneka Ogwumike had 27 points and 12 rebounds for her sixth double-double. She was 6 of 6 from the field in the first half to extend her WNBA record to 23 straight made field goals over the past three games. She missed her first shot of the second half, a 3-pointer from the wing, and finished 12 of 14.
Candace Parker had 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists for Los Angeles (10-0), which is ranked No. 2 in the AP power poll. The Sparks host Phoenix on Friday and undefeated Minnesota (11-0) on June 21.
Cappie Pondexter had 20 points for fifth-ranked Chicago (5-6). Elena Delle Donne was held to 15 points on 4-of-12 shooting.
At New York, Tina Charles scored 28 points and Sugar Rodgers added 18 to help Liberty beat Dallas.
Charles broke an 85-85 tie with a jumper from the top of the key with 40 seconds remaining after Kiah Stokes grabbed an offensive rebound. Dallas had a chance to take the lead, but Plenette Pierson’s 3-pointer from the wing was short and Stokes grabbed the rebound with 21 seconds left. Rodgers hit two free throws a few seconds later to make it a two-possession game.
