MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kahleah Copper had 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists, Alanna Smith scored 15 and the Chicago Sky used a big second quarter to beat the Minnesota Lynx 77-66 Friday night in the WNBA opener.
Chicago pulled away in the second quarter after outscoring Minnesota 22-3 to take a 44-27 halftime lead. The Lynx shot just 1-for-15 from the ground in the period and turned over 11 more times, resulting in Chicago’s 13 points.
Chicago led by double digits in the first 18 minutes of the second half until Kayla McBride made it 75-66 with 1:03 left in the fourth period. Smith answered with two free throws to help seal it.
Elizabeth Williams added 14 points and Rebecca Gardner 10 for Chicago. Sky scored 17 points from 20 Minnesota turnovers.
Navisa Collier, who missed most of last season while on maternity leave, led Minnesota with 17 points and McBride added 12. Maryland’s second-ranked Diamond Miller scored nine points and seven rebounds in 23 minutes.
Chicago also beat Minnesota in a preseason game Saturday behind 18 points from Cooper in the NBA’s first visit to Canada.
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