Mystics-Lynx Preview

By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN
Posted May 16 2010 12:13AM

Lindsay Whalen is finally back home.

Whalen will make her Target Center debut for the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday night against the Washington Mystics.

The Lynx acquired the former University of Minnesota standout from Connecticut in the offseason, bringing the hometown star back to the state where she led the Golden Gophers to the Final Four in 2004. She was named Sportsperson of the Year by both local newspapers that year, beating out NBA MVP Kevin Garnett and AL Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana.

It's clear Minnesotans respond to having their local stars play professionally in the Twin Cities. The addition of the two-time WNBA All-Star has been compared to the Twins signing St. Paul native Joe Mauer to an eight-year extension for what it will bring to the franchise.

The Lynx are giving away collector's cards featuring Whalen at the home opener.

"We know a lot of people have waited for this day for six years; memories of her leading the U of M program on its magical 2004 Final Four run are etched in Minnesotans' hearts forever," Lynx chief operating officer Conrad Smith said. "The collector's card pays tribute to Lindsay's incredible accomplishments as a Gopher, while also looking forward to what we expect will be a tremendous career with the Lynx."

Whalen will have to shoulder the load early for the Lynx (1-0) with stars Seimone Augustus (abdomen) and Candice Wiggins (knee) currently out. That wasn't an issue in her debut Saturday as she had 10 points and six assists in a 80-74 win at Tulsa.

Charde Houston scored 21 points, and rookie Monica Wright added 18 in her first game.

Washington (1-0) is also dealing without a superstar as Alana Beard out for the season due to ankle surgery.

The Mystics, though, responded in their season opener with a 72-65 win at Eastern Conference champion Indiana on Saturday. Monique Currie scored 21 points and Crystal Langhorne finished with 19.

Katie Smith added 12 points in her Mystics debut. Smith began her WNBA career with Minnesota from 1999-2005, and won two titles with Detroit over the next four years before signing with Washington as a free agent.

"She just has a toughness about her," said Washington coach Julie Plank about Smith. "She's competitive, she's not afraid of anything, and she just wills people to win. When she's on the floor, they know they can do it."

The teams split two meetings last season. Minnesota won 96-94 at home on July 7 to spoil the return of former top overall draft pick Lindsey Harding, who led the Mystics with 27 points.

Whalen welcome ruined by Mystics, 87-76 over Lynx

By DAVE CAMPBELL
Posted May 16 2010 9:18PM

MINNEAPOLIS(AP) Monique Currie scored 27 points and the Washington Mystics spoiled Lindsay Whalen's home debut for Minnesota with an 87-76 victory over the Lynx on Sunday night.

Whalen finished with 12 points, seven assists and four rebounds, but the Lynx lost a 15-point second-quarter lead and faded in the second half while Currie and former Lynx star Katie Smith led the Mystics to their second win in two days - minus star Alana Beard.

Smith had 16 points for Washington, as did Crystal Langhorne. Lindsey Harding, another former Lynx player, had 14 points.

Charde Houston had 19 points and Rashanda McCants added 18 points for Minnesota, which finished 4 for 20 from 3-point range. Whalen shot 4 for 11 from the floor.

Whalen's role for this franchise that has experienced the playoffs only twice in the first 11 seasons transcends the leadership, passing and shooting skills she provides in the backcourt. Just look at a list of the promotions planned for this year with her name on them. During the fourth quarter, a video of Whalen cooking a recipe with sponsor Gold'n Plump chicken appeared on the scoreboard. The first 3,000 fans through the turnstiles were given commemorative hologram cards reflecting Whalen's career.

Whalen, the former University of Minnesota star and native of nearby Hutchinson, was acquired in a January trade with the Connecticut Sun. That was the headliner in a busy offseason for the Lynx, who were pegged in the WNBA's annual general manager survey as the league's most improved team.

The passionate niche of the local sports fan base that favors women's basketball has longed for Whalen to come to the Lynx since she was drafted by Connecticut after her program-defining college career with the Gophers.

The late-afternoon sky outside was sparkling, which didn't help the attendance, but the crowd spread around the arena's lower bowl well enough to create a solidly supportive soundtrack for Whalen's first home game for the hometown team in six years since she guided the Gophers to the Final Four. Many of the green jerseys and shirts spotted in the seats displayed her No. 13.

``We need your energy. We need your noise,'' Whalen told the fans in a brief welcome at midcourt before tipoff.

Whalen had eight points in the first quarter, and the Lynx - who opened the season with a win on the road over Tulsa the night before - built a lead as big as 33-18.

Right before the advantage reached its apex, Whalen pulled off a perfect give-and-go with Quanitra Hollingsworth by taking an football-style shovel pass, dribbling under the basket and spinning an up-an-under layup high off the glass.

The Mystics charged back, though, frustrating the Lynx with foul trouble and shooting struggles. Even Whalen was called for charging late in the first half - drawing boos - for using her forearm to create space between her and Smith on a drive to the hoop.

Langhorne's layup gave the Mystics a 44-43 lead, their first since 7-6, and the Lynx weren't able to fully recover from the momentum shift. Whalen dribbled to the lane, backed out and zipped a pass to McCants on the wing for a 3-pointer to tie the game at 46. Whalen raised her arms as if she made the shot herself and pumped her fist to keep the adrenaline going, but Currie, Smith and the Mystics were too much down the stretch.

Coach Cheryl Reeve grew so agitated with the foul calls against the Lynx she nearly ripped her suit jacket off and was later whistled for a techincal.

• Mystics: --
• Lynx: --

• Mystics: Currie
• Lynx: Reeve

• Lead Changes: 5
• Times Tied: 4

• Arena: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
• Officials: #7 Clarke Stevens, #8 Daryl Humphrey, #43 Brenda Pantoja
• Attendance: 9985
• Duration: 1:57