Sparks vs. Lynx: Game 5 Score and Twitter Reaction from 2016 WNBA Finals

The Los Angeles Sparks are WNBA champions after a Nneka Ogwumike layup with three seconds remaining gave the team a 77-76 win over the defending champion Minnesota Lynx. 

Maya Moore hit a go-ahead shot for Minnesota with 15 seconds left, but the league MVP got the rebound and putback to secure the winner-take-all Game 5 battle.

Bleacher Report captured the final few moments of the game:

This is the first title for the Sparks since they won back-to-back championships in 2001 and 2002, knocking off a team that had won three of the last five championships in the process.

Ogwumike finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds in the game after scoring just six points in the first three quarters. Still, Candace Parker was the real star of the day, finishing with 28 points and 12 rebounds in the win.

The former Tennessee star—who was also named MVP of the Finals—immediately thought of her college coach after the victory, per ESPN Women's Hoops:

David Aldridge of Turner Sports praised Los Angeles' effort in the win:

Moore was also outstanding in the game, ending the night with 23 points, 11 assists and six rebounds in a losing effort. Seimone Augustus added 17 points, but the squad just could not close out the win at home.

The Lynx were up 55-54 heading into the fourth quarter, but the Sparks came out aggressive in the final 10 minutes, starting with a quick six points by Chelsea Gray. Big baskets by Parker and Kristi Toliver helped Los Angeles take the lead and eventually build up a 71-63 margin with three minutes remaining.

Evan Turner was impressed by the star player's effort:

Of course, Moore wasn't going to let the game get away that easily. She scored four straight points and helped Minnesota tie the game with an 8-0 run.

WNBA President Lisa Borders made sure fans were watching the last couple of minutes of action:

The two sides traded baskets over the course of the final minutes, but Ogwumike's last points ended up deciding the game. 

Jordan Johnson/Getty Images

The fans were loud from start to finish in this game, as former player Katie Smith noted:

The first quarter set the tone for a close game, as neither side was able to build more than a four-point lead. Parker and Moore lived up to expectations in the early going, with both players leading their team with big plays.

Parker had seven points in the first quarter, including a big three-pointer with an assist from Toliver:

Meanwhile, Rachel Blount of the Star Tribune provided an interesting statistic on the Finals:

Although the score remained close in the second, the Lynx started to take control thanks to the all-around great play of Moore. The former MVP finished the first half with 12 points, five assists, five rebounds and three steals as the home team built a 34-28 lead at intermission.

The Lynx Twitter account certainly was enjoying the show:

On the other hand, the Sparks were trying to overcome the absence of Ogwumike, who picked up three early fouls and was forced to sit a large portion of the second quarter.

The third quarter featured even more swings, with the Lynx going up 39-33 until a 7-0 run helped the Sparks regain the lead. Parker chipped in with a couple of big plays.

Former player Ticha Penicheiro praised the talented center:

Minnesota responded right away, and the two sides continued to fight until it was a one-point game heading into the final period.

Jim Souhan of the Star Tribune joked about the close contest:

The fourth quarter was no different, even after the Sparks built an eight-point lead with only a few minutes remaining. The action came down to the last couple of plays, and the Sparks were able to do just enough to secure the win.

These were the two best teams in the WNBA over the course of the season, and they took the final series the distance with an exciting back-and-forth battle.

Although it's a long way until the start of the 2017 season, both of these rosters feature elite players still in their prime, which could make this rivalry one to watch for the next few years.

Postgame Reaction

Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve did not hold back in her criticism of the officials after the game, specifically Ogwumike's questionable jump shot with 1:12 remaining that might have come after the shot clock. Per Chad Graff of the Pioneer Press, the coach explained:

The other locker room was much more positive, with Ogwumike praising Parker, per ESPN Women's Hoops:

Parker was outstanding throughout the series and was deserving of her first-ever championship.

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