WNBA Playoff Capsules: Sylvia Fowles, Maya Moore lift Lynx over Mystics, 93-83

MINNEAPOLIS – Newly crowned MVP Sylvia Fowles scored 25 points to lead the Minnesota Lynx to a 93-83 victory over the Washington Mystics in Game 2 of the WNBA semifinals Thursday night.

Fowles made 12 of 16 shots and the Lynx shot 51 percent from the floor to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series. Maya Moore had 22 points and five assists, and Rebekkah Brunson added 11 points and 10 rebounds in a back-and-forth game at the University of Minnesota’s Williams Arena.

Elena Delle Donne and Kristi Toliver each scored 25 points for the Mystics. Washington led by two with five minutes to go, but was outscored 20-8 the rest of the way.

Game 3 is Sunday in Washington.

Fowles was given the MVP trophy about two hours before tipoff, accepting it in a tearful press conference as she reflected on 10 years in the league.

Sparks 86, Mercury 72

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Candace Parker had 24 points and 13 rebounds – showing no effects of an ankle injury – to help Los Angeles beat Phoenix in Game 2 of the WNBA semifinal series.

Parker injured her ankle in the warmups before the Sparks’ Game 1 victory, but she still played in that game and returned to her usual form in Game 2 the Pyramid.

The defending champion Sparks have won nine games in a row and can sweep the best-of-five series Sunday in Arizona.

Nneka Ogwumike added 18 points and nine rebounds for Los Angeles. Diana Taurasi led Phoenix with 19 points, and Brittney Griner had 16 points.