Los Angeles Sparks Clinch Playoff Spot

With their key players out all season long because of injuries, the Los Angeles Sparks defy all odds as they clinched a playoff spot with a win against the Minnesota Lynx, 98-91, Saturday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

"Oh my God, sweet victory," Sparks coach Jennifer Gillom said. "We just fought through adversity all this season, through injuries, all of it, and we're here. That's what makes it so sweet."

Veteran Tina Thompson, who is the WNBA all-time leading scorer, led the Sparks attack with her 26 points and nine rebounds.

DeLisha Milton-Jones contributed 24 points and seven rebounds, while Noelle Quinn chipped in 13 points and had six rebounds and four assists for the Sparks, which their seventh win in their last 11 games. Ticha Penicheiro dished out 12 assists for Los Angeles.

"This team in the past has showed that it can't close out games in the end," Gillom said. "We had to be more aggressive. We knew that if we kept it close until the fourth quarter, we could probably pull it off."

Charde Houston erupted with 21 points, while Lindsay Whalen added 16 points, seven assists, and five rebounds for the Lynx, which must win against Indiana on Sunday to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot.

"We have to go in there and play with intensity," Lindsay Whalen said. "We've been playing hard and we've been playing well. We just haven't been finding the right answers at the end of games."

Complete WNBA Results (Saturday - August 21, 2010)

• New York Liberty 74 - Washington Mystics 75
• Indiana Fever 61 - San Antonio Silver Stars 75
• Connecticut Sun 78 - Chicago Sky 71
• Seattle Storm 78 - Phoenix Mercury 73
• Minnesota Lynx 91 - Los Angeles Sparks 98