For the second-straight season, the Los Angeles Sparks and Minnesota Lynx battled it out for the right to be called WNBA Champions. In fitting fashion, it was also the second-straight season the WNBA Finals went the distance with a decisive fifth game played on Wednesday night. The latest WNBA MVP Sylvia Fowles had a huge game with a double-double while teammate Maya Moore hit a clutch shot down the stretch. Here's the latest Sparks vs. Lynx game recap with top performers, game stats, and a look back at the season that was for the WNBA.

WNBA game recap

Tonight's game started in favor of the home team as the Minnesota Lynx were up 21-19 after the first quarter, and 41-35 at the half. In the third quarter, Los Angeles outscored the Lynx 21-19, but Minnesota held them off down the stretch with a 25-20 fourth quarter. The end result was an 85-76 win over the Lynx and another championship trophy.

Leading the way tonight for Minnesota's big win was Sylvia Fowles. The WNBA MVP scored 17 points on 6-for-10 shooting and also snatched 20 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end. Fowles also dished out four assists, blocked three shots, and had two steals. Lindsay Whalen also scored 17 points with eight of her points coming on an 8-for-8 charity stripe performance.

Maya Moore also had a double-double as she scored 18 points and grabbed 10 boards. Moore also hit a key shot with just under 30 seconds to go in the game to give her team the lead for good.

In the losing effort, the Los Angeles Sparks received 19 points and 15 rebounds from Candace Parker along with five assists, four blocks, and two steals.

Chelsea Gray had 15 points and eight assists, while Nneka Ogwumike had a quieter night than usual. The former MVP had just 11 points and only three rebounds.

For the game, Los Angeles shot at a rate of 45.3 percent and had 29 rebounds. The Minnesota Lynx had an impressive 46 rebounds and hit their shots at a rate of 44.9 percent while also knocking down 21-of-23 free throws they attempted.

Looking back & ahead

The latest WNBA Finals matchup was inevitable for most of the WNBA season although there were plenty of surprises. That included the Connecticut Sun's run to the postseason despite low expectations, as well as the two surprise upsets in the playoffs with the Phoenix Mercury and Washington Mystics.

There are also plenty of promising young players to watch for in the future including San Antonio's Kelsey Plum, Dallas' Allisha Gray, and Atlanta's Brittney Sykes. Dallas qualified for the postseason this year but the other two teams did not. However, both San Antonio and Atlanta look like they could contend within a season or two.

As far as the Los Angeles Sparks, there's no doubt that based on the star power this team features, that they'll be back again.

The same can be said for Minnesota, as the Lynx have now put their franchise into the history books as one of the all-time great dynasties.

Congratulations to the Lynx, as well as the Sparks, for another impressive season and WNBA Finals!
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