LYNX GAMEDAY PREVIEW
7 p.m. Thursday vs. Los Angeles • Target Center • BSN/Amazon Prime
Lynx update: The team announced G Rachel Banham has a fractured right thumb, suffered in a loss to Las Vegas on July 9, but will not have surgery. … The Lynx are 9-12 after a three-game losing streak and open a three-game homestand looking to complete a season-sweep of the Sparks. The Lynx won the first three meetings in the series — played in a nine-day span in mid-June — by five, five and six points. … Napheesa Collier, who led the Lynx with 35 points on Tuesday in a loss in Atlanta, has averaged 25 points against the Sparks this season. … Tiffany Mitchell returned to the lineup Tuesday after missing seven games with a wrist injury. She scored two points in 17 minutes. … Jessica Shepard (illness) is out, while Aerial Powers (ankle) was activated for the game. Guard Kayana Taylor was released from her hardship contract.
Los Angeles update: The Sparks (7-13) are playing for the first time since a 97-78 loss to Las Vegas on July 12. That loss was their sixth consecutive. During the streak, the Sparks have lost to Atlanta twice, Chicago twice, Phoenix and Las Vegas. … The Sparks have been led by Nneka Ogwumike, who is averaging 19.8 points — fifth-best in the league — and 9.6 rebounds — third-best in the league — per game. … Lexie Brown, who played for the Lynx in 2019 and 2020, is averaging a career-high 13.3 points per game and is shooting 42% from three-point range. Brown (illness) is considered day-to-day. Chiney Ogwumike (foot), who is expected to miss at least the next month, and Nia Clouden (knee) are out.