Uniteds midfield began to take command. from corse178's blog
Minnesota and Chicago both had games this past weekend they needed to win to get back on track, and both were victorious. Devonte Graham Jersey . The difference is how far off the track they were.For the Lynx, in a three-game losing skid after starting the season 13-0, it was like having an unexpected flat tire by the side of the road that needed to be fixed. Theyre now 14-3 and trail only 16-1 Los Angeles in the standings.For the Sky, though, it was the continuing search to make sure theyre even on the right road to the playoffs. They are 7-9 and part of the logjam of teams battling for the postseason.When the Lynx and Sky meet Tuesday in Minnesota (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET), those storylines remain in focus, along with the background that lingers between them in regard to center Sylvia Fowles.You could see some parallel between what Fowles did in 2015 -- sitting out and forcing a trade from Chicago to Minnesota -- to what Kevin Durant did Monday in leaving Oklahoma City to sign as a free agent with Golden State.In both cases, these are players in the primes of their careers who didnt win a title with the organization that drafted them (Durant moved with the franchise from Seattle to Oklahoma City in 2008), opting to go to a team that recently had won a championship.Obviously, the WNBA and NBA are completely different worlds in regard to salaries and exposure, but another way its different is that Durant really was free to go wherever he chose. Fowles was not, despite having been in the league for seven years at the point she wanted out of Chicago.She had the core-player designation, which meant she wasnt free to leave, but she could veto any trade she didnt want. Everyone knew she wanted to go to the Lynx and was willing to sit out all last season if that didnt happen. So, actually, neither Fowles nor the Sky were in great bargaining position, which is why the situation lingered into late July 2015.Then a three-team deal involving Atlanta got done, and Fowles joined Minnesota. Though it did take a little work, she was successfully incorporated into the Lynx and helped them win the league championship, being named WNBA Finals MVP.The Sky, who went to the WNBA Finals in Fowles last year there, 2014, still havent overcome her absence. Elena Delle Donne was league MVP last year, will be on the U.S. Olympic squad this year, and is having another strong season (20.3 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.1 APG).Veteran guards Cappie Pondexter (13.0 PPG), Allie Quigley (9.0 PPG) and Courtney Vandersloot (8.2 PPG, 4.8 APG) continue to power the perimeter for the Sky. But their interior game is made up of players who are capable and serviceable, but not stars who consistently put up big numbers.Rookie center Imani Boyette, 21, is the youngest of that crew and also the tallest at 6-foot-7. She has averaged 7.2 points and 4.2 rebounds, which is decent production for a first-year post acclimating herself to the league.But it all means a lot once again is riding on the shoulders of Delle Donne, who is one of the premier players in the world. But she is still just one player.Its very difficult -- theyre a championship team, Delle Donne said of facing the Lynx, who beat the Sky 97-80 on May 18 in the second game of the season for both squads.Obviously, the season hasnt started off exactly as wed want it to. Weve had defensive lapses, and weve been working on it all season. But its one of those things: You cant talk about it, youve got to do it. Its something were trying to figure out.Delle Donne had her first double-double of the season Friday with 28 points and 11 rebounds as Chicago edged Washington 86-84 in overtime, with Vandersloot hitting the game-winning shot with 4.6 seconds left.Saturday, the Lynx got back to their winning ways by taking out their frustrations on San Antonio, winning 91-68 behind 21 points off the bench from Natasha Howard.Minnesota had lost at home to Los Angeles, at Washington, and back home to New York going into the game with San Antonio. The Lynx just needed to find their bearings.Hiccups like this arent unusual during the course of a season, even for a team as good as Minnesota. The Lynx have been through things like this before. The important thing for them is maintaining one of the top two spots in the standings in order to get the early bye in the playoffs.I think we focus on coming together even more, guard Lindsay Whalen said of the mindset of the three-time champions. We have to hone in on the little things on court as far as communicating. Devon Hall Jersey . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach. Chandler Hutchison Jersey . A forerunning sled crashed into the worker Thursday at the Sanki Sliding Center. The unidentified worker broke both legs and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. http://www.cheapjerseysauthenticnba.us/donte-divincenzo-jersey/ .ca! Hi Kerry, Heres an interesting one. I know its common knowledge that all players are responsible for their sticks. We witnessed that when Zack Kassian hit Edmontons Sam Gagner in the face after a missed check. BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The underdog of soccer underdogs, D.C. United, has advanced to the U.S. Open Cup Final. Uniteds 2-0 victory over the Chicago Fire in Wednesdays semifinal accomplished that despite the worst record in Major League Soccer. D.C. scored its fourth win of the tournament. It has three victories in MLS competition this season, along with 15 losses and four ties, but its unbeaten in the U.S. Soccer Federations all-comers tournament. United will visit Real Salt Lake in the final on Oct. 1. The outcome made up for a 4-1 loss to Chicago in MLS play on the same field on July 20. The Fire outclassed D.C. from start to finish. "It was a spanking," said United forward Dwayne De Rosario. "It was tough even to watch." De Rosario was absent for that game, recovering from an adductor strain. Fully healed, he came back to action last week, and scored the first of Uniteds two goals Wednesday. "I wanted to set the tone," De Rosario said. He did, pouncing on a ball goalkeeper Sean Johnson bobbled, taking two steps to the left, and booting it home from 4 yards in the 44th minute. Then came Nick DeLeon, Uniteds other threat, and also injured until recently. He scored in the 48th minute, ripping a low 13-yard shot to Johnsons left after slaloming through a pair of defenders. D.C.s Joe Willis made six saves. "t;The last two games, weve looked like a team," United coach Ben Olsen said. Arnoldas Kulboka Jersey. . "Weve been able to understand this is extremely important. Our best shot at a trophy is in the Open Cup." The Fire pushed hard in the last 20 minutes, but failed to score. Willis made a difficult save on Alex in the 76th minute, then watched Austin Berrys deflected shot carom off the goal post a minute later. In the first 27 minutes, Willis solved Chris Rolfe and Alex, after which Uniteds midfield began to take command. But the goals were still stunners. "They got a little bit of fortune tonight," Fire midfielder Jeff Larentowicz said. "They score (the first goal) on a mistake, and after their second, I dont know how we dont score." For United, playing for a championship in a dismal season is heartening. "Its coming together a little late, but it feels good," DeLeon said. "Three wins (in MLS), but were playing for a championship nonetheless. "You get rewarded sometimes." Neither Chicago nor D.C. United is above .500 in MLS competition, but advanced to the U.S. Open Cup semifinals by beating a combination of MLS and lower-level professional squads. United had beaten Richmond of the USL Pro circuit, and MLS foes Philadelphia and New England, to earn the right to play Chicago. 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