MINNEAPOLIS _ Williams Arena, full with 14,632 fans, was so loud as the clocked ticked the final time away it was almost painful.
Almost.
Leading from start to finish, fending off every Los Angeles Sparks run along the way _ including a scary one late _ the Minnesota Lynx sealed their legacy Wednesday night at Williams Arena.
Dynasty.
They won Game 5 of the WNBA finals, 85-76, pulling away after the Sparks cut the lead to three with a late flurry. They became the second franchise in league history with four championships, winning their fourth in seven seasons.
And they avenged the Sparks last-minute victory on the Target Center floor a year ago.
Oh, the noise. The players danced at center court as music played and confetti rained.
It's only perfect that all five of the Lynx starters scored in double figures, between 13 and 18 points. Maya Moore had 18 points and 10 rebounds. Sylvis Fowles dominated, with 17 points and a record 20 rebounds, earning finals MVP honors in the process.
Lindsay Whalen, playing her final game in the Barn, had 17 points, eight assists, showing the grit she is known for. It's perfect that her two free throws were the last points of the game.
Candace Parker had 19 points and 15 rebounds for the Sparks, who were looking to become the first back-to- back title winners in 15 years. Chelsea Gray had 15. Nneka Ogwumike had 11 before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
So, when it was over, as the crowd roared. Both with joy and relief; up 12 late, a flurry of turnovers allowed the Sparks to pull within three, 79-76, with 34.9 seconds left on Odyssey Sims' three-point play.
But Moore scored in the lane with 26.5 seconds left. Sims missed a three and Fowles grabbed her 20th rebound of the game, was fouled and made both free throws.
The Lynx never trailed.
The Lynx began the quarter on fire and ended it flaming out. Brunson scored the game's first two baskets, then Whalen hit a 3-pointer to give the Lynx a 7-0 lead and force a Sparks time out.
With the Sparks starting 1-for-6, that Lynx lead grew.
Brunson hit two free throws with 4:18 left in the quarter, then Moore stole the ball and drove for a score to put the Lynx up 15-6 and force yet another time out. The lead grew to 11 on Moore's jumper that made it 19-8.
The rest of the quarter: Sparks.
The Lynx went to the bench and the Lynx started turning the ball over. The Sparks _ who scored eight points off seven Lynx turnovers in the first _ finished the quarter on an 11-2 run, pulling within 21-19 on Parker's basket at the buzzer.
The Lynx continued to control the boards, but kept turning the ball over. A quick 5-0 burst that started with Augustus' free throw after L.A. coach Brian Agler was called for a technical arguing a call against Parker put the Lynx up 28-21.
The Sparks scored four straight, then Fowles scored on a put-back, Augustus hit a three and Whalen drove in a 7-2 run that pushed the lead to 11.
But the Sparks finished the first half the way they finished the second. This time a 7-2 run, with Parker and Ogwumike getting consecutive three-point plays.
The Lynx scored the first six points of the third to go up 12, only to have the Sparks go on an 11-4 run to pull within five, forcing a Lynx time out with 4:35 left in the third.
Out of a time Renee Montgomery and Jia Perkins scored, pushing the lead back to nine. It was still nine when Moore hit two free throws with 1:37 left.
But, again, a Sparks run to end a quarter, this time 6-1, with Gray's jumper pulling the Sparks within four entering the fourth.
