New Lynx coach Jen Gillom kicked off her high heels Saturday at the podium before her postgame news conference. "Wow, what a night. What a beginning, 102 points it's almost unbelievable," said Gillom, who was promoted from second-year assistant to head coach three days ago.
She had reason to be thrilled.
In the opening day of the WNBA season, the Lynx outsped, outhustled and outshot Chicago in beating the Sky 102-85 at Target Center before an announced crowd of 8,708.
Last season, the Lynx were the second-highest scoring team in the WNBA, averaging 81.4 points per game, but never had reached 100.
Four starters scored in double figures for the Lynx; two reserves scored nine. More impressive were the shooting statistics. The Lynx shot 53 percent and scored 34 points off 22 Sky turnovers.
Gillom promised a team that would run. The Lynx ran, scoring 18 points on fast breaks.
Seimone Augustus and Candice Wiggins, the big two last season, led the Lynx with 23 and 20 points, respectively. They were a combined 19-for-19 at the foul line. Center Nicky Anosike contributed 11 points, eight assists and four steals. Charde Houston, scoring often on her trademark spin move in the lane, added 15 points.
"After everything we have been through this past week, we just wanted to come out and play well and play together," Augustus said. "It has been a crazy up and down week. We were preparing for the season and then coach Z [Don Zierden] leaves. Jen stepped in. But luckily we didn't got outside the organization to get another coach."
Chicago took a 15-4 lead but its early dominance proved to be an illusion. The Lynx used a 14-0 run in the middle of the second half to go ahead 30-21. It was 56-45 Minnesota at halftime, and then the Lynx went on an 11-2 run to open the second half.
The Sky was falling. Down 67-47. Chicago never had a serious rally.
"We started out just a little shaky," Gillom said. "I told them I will give them two minutes, just two minutes to get the nerves out. And after the two minutes is over, I was going to start subbing if they weren't ready."
For Augustus, who has played on non-playoff teams in each of her three seasons with the Lynx, the victory was especially meaningful.
"We are tired of being in a slump," Augustus said. "We are tired of being the underestimated team in this league. Always the one at the bottom. They made the changes to better the team, to one day that be contender team."
This team, Augustus said, can come from behind like it did Saturday night.
"When you have players like Wiggins and Anosike on your team, you never lack energy," Augustus said. "You can always make a run because they are going to find some energy from somewhere. If they find it in the tip of their toes, it's going to come out."
