Alanna Smith has 18 points in 17 minutes to sink Sparks

• Alanna Smith missed the first game of the WNBA season but made an immediate impact in Minnesota's 14-point win against LA
• Smith dropped 15 points in just 17 minutes as a starter
• Smith played a prominent role in the Lynx's run to the 2024 WNBA Finals against New York

Australian centre Alanna Smith suited up for the first time in the 2025 WNBA season and made an immediate impact as a starter in Minnesota Lynx (2-0) 89-75 win against the Los Angeles Sparks (1-1) at Crypto.com Arena on Monday, May 19, 2025.

Smith, 28, finished with 18 points in just 17 minutes on an efficient 6-from-9 from the field including a pair of threes. She also grabbed three defensive boards, dished two assists and had two blocks while going +7 in her restricted minutes. Smith was 4-from-7 from three.

Lynx teammate Napheesa Collier's 23-point performance powered the visitors to a convincing 14-point win, their second to start the season.

Key Details

• Result: Minnesota Lynx 89 def. Los Angeles Sparks 75
• When: 18th May 2025
• Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles
• Standings: Minnesota Lynx (#1) | Los Angeles Sparks (#8) Standings

By the Numbers

• Napheesa Collier (Minnesota) starred with 23 points, six rebounds, one assist, two steals, and one block in 31 minutes.
• Azura Stevens (Los Angeles) scored 21 points, and had six rebounds, one assist, two steals, and one block in 34 minutes.

What Happened

The Lynx established dominance early, racing to a 30-25 first-quarter lead behind Collier's efficient scoring. Their momentum slowed in the second period as the Sparks tightened defensively, outscoring Minnesota 20-16 to cut the deficit to just one point at halftime, 46-45.

Minnesota reasserted control in the third quarter with a 24-17 run. Courtney Williams orchestrated the offence brilliantly, accumulating nine assists while contributing 13 points on the night. The Lynx defence tightened significantly in the fourth quarter, holding Los Angeles to just 13 points while scoring 19 themselves to secure the comfortable victory.

With 7:30 remaining in the third quarter, Alanna Smith hit a crucial three-pointer that sparked an 8-0 Minnesota run, extending their lead from three to 11 points. Smith finished with an impressive 15 points on efficient 6-from-9 shooting, including 3-from-6 from beyond the arc.

Jessica Shepard provided vital production off the bench with 11 points and 10 rebounds, shooting an efficient 5-from-6 from the field. Her presence inside helped Minnesota dominate the rebounding battle 34-29, with seven offensive boards leading to valuable second-chance opportunities.

The Lynx's superior efficiency was evident in their 46.4% field goal percentage compared to the Sparks' 40%. Minnesota also displayed excellent ball movement, recording 25 assists to Los Angeles' 15. While Dearica Hamby posted 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Sparks, and Kelsey Plum added 18 points with five assists, their efforts weren't enough to overcome Minnesota's balanced attack.