Lynx Give Local Sports Fans Something To Cheer About
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It's becoming clear that the hottest ticket in town right now is for the Minnesota Lynx.
The Minnesota Vikings are struggling and off to a 0-4 start after losing at Kansas City 22-17 on Sunday. The Gopher football team is 1-4 after getting blown out 58-0 in its Big 10 Conference opener at Michigan on Saturday. The Minnesota Twins had a dismal summer, finishing last in the American League Central Division with a 63-99 record.
The Twin Cities is desperate for a winner, and right now it's the Lynx. Minnesota's WNBA franchise finished the regular season with the league's best record at 27-7. They won two playoff series to get to the WNBA Finals, where they hosted the Atlanta Dream in Game 1 Sunday night at the Target Center.
Here's a gallery of Sunday night's victory
About 15,000 fans packed the house for the game, and many flocked to Target Plaza before the contest for a pregame party.
In the shadows of a shut tight Target Field hundreds of die-hard Lynx fans turned the plaza into a pre-game party.
Seimone Augustus, Candice Wiggins and Lindsay Whalen were among the favorite jerseys fans sported, while others made signs and had their faces painted to show their team spirit.
"I think the Lynx are Minnesota's number one sports team the only sports team in Minnesota that's playing like the Lynx are playing," said Lynx fan Linnete Graf.
No argument for this crowd, the Lynx are the hottest sports team in town.
"We are the Dream's biggest nightmare," said Ella Graf.
It was a party to celebrate the Lynx's first WNBA Finals appearance since the franchise came to Minnesota back in 1999, and the party did not stop when the crowd moved inside Target Center.
From the hardwood to the very top, more people than seats, proof this team is the one to watch if you're thinking about championships. Lynx "Hype Man" B-Wright said this team will be one remembered and talked about for years to come.
"This season their destiny could be felt at the beginning of the season and that's what makes us special. It's all about team. There is no one person on the team that is better than the next, that's why we're winning," he said.
Governor Mark Dayton was also in the stands cheering the Lynx on.
Fans exited Target Center on a high note and many were already trying to buy tickets for game two on Wednesday.
The Lynx rewarded their fans with an 88-74 win over the Dream to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series. Game 2 is at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Target Center.
