MINNEAPOLIS -- In a championship series filled with stars, Alana Beard sometimes can get lost with so much attention on Minnesotas four Olympians and the two MVPs in Los Angeles.Thats exactly what happened in the closing moments of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, and Beard hit a jumper from the baseline just before time expired to lift the Sparks to a 78-76 victory over the defending champion Lynx.With the defense collapsing on Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike in the paint, Beard found herself all alone in the corner. She took the pass from Chelsea Gray and knocked down jumper with Maya Moores in her face.As the ball splashed through, Moore put her head in her hands, and the Sparks celebrated a thrilling victory, their second on Minnesotas court this season.You may not recognize the importance of her statistically for us a lot of times, Sparks coach Brian Agler said. But her presence, her leadership, obviously how disruptive she can be defensively, and then for her to hit a shot like that, it was incredible.Kristi Toliver scored 19 points to lead Los Angeles and Parker had 14 points and nine rebounds in her finals debut. League MVP Ogwumike added 19 points for the Sparks in the opener of the best-of-five series.Sylvia Fowles had 18 points and 13 rebounds and Lindsay Whalen scored 18 points for top-seeded Minnesota. Moore scored all 18 of her points in the second half to move into first place on the WNBAs career finals scoring list, but the Lynx committed 16 turnovers and got caught scrambling on the final possession of the game.I think we were more worried about not letting anyone get to the hole, Fowles said. Im not sure exactly what happened on that last play to make her get wide open. But we learned from this.There was a time not too long ago when Beards name belonged on the marquee with players Parker and Ogwumike or Lynx stars Moore, Sylvia Fowles, Seimone Augustus and Lindsay Whalen. She was the national player of the year at Duke, the No. 2 overall pick by the Washington Mystics in 2004 and a four-time All-Star before injuries set her back.She re-emerged in Los Angeles as a defensive specialist, but she took center stage in Game 1. Before she hit the game-winner, Beard also had a spectacular block of a shot by Whalen and then a steal off an inbounds to set up Ogwumikes bucket for a 76-72 lead.Moore scored on a coast-to-coast layup to tie the score at 76 with 24.7 seconds to play, but she helped aggressively on Grays drive on the other end, leaving Beard open for just her second bucket of the game.I dont think Ive ever hit a game-winner, Beard said quietly. So its pretty cool. Pretty cool.NEW LOOK: In years past these two teams never could have met in the finals because both are in the Western Conference. But the league changed its playoff format this year and seeded all of the teams based on record, not geography. The result in the first year could not have been better for the league with the top two teams throughout the season meeting.I dont think its a fluke that were here now in the finals, Fowles said. Im loving this new format.PARKERS DEBUT: Parker has been one of the leagues brightest stars for years, but has never been able to reach the leagues biggest stage. She hit 5 of 12 shots and had three assists.At first obviously theres some nerves, but you kind of get lost in the game and just trying to execute, Parker said. We had to take it possession by possession because you never know whats going to happen.MOORES MARK: The Minnesota star was 0 for 4 in the first half, but made 7 of 10 shots in the final two quarters to move past Diana Taurasi for first place on the WNBAs career scoring list for the finals. She set the mark with 5:20 to play after hitting a jump shot and converting the three-point play.TOP 20: The WNBA hosted more than a dozen members of the top 20 players in league history for a halftime ceremony. Each player was presented with a ring to commemorate it. Whalen, Moore, Parker and Augustus all participated in the ceremony, and the league extended the length of halftime to allow them to receive their rings and then get back to the locker room to meet with coaches and teammates.UP NEXT: Game 2 is on Tuesday in Minneapolis. Authentic Tommy Hunter Jersey . Sulaiman, 44, was chosen unanimously Tuesday in a vote by the leadership, the World Boxing Council said. Sulaiman becomes the sixth president of the organization. Authentic Darren Daulton Jersey . -- Jakob Silfverberg is making himself right at home with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring four goals in his first four games. http://www.cheapphilliesjerseys.us/authentic-jimmy-foxx-jersey/ .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester. Authentic Larry Andersen Jersey . Boucher previously coached the Tampa Bay Lightning and had a 97-78-20 record over two-plus seasons. He was dismissed by the team last March after the Lightning struggled in the lockout-shortened season with a 13-18-1 record. Authentic Pat Neshek Jersey . Andrew Luck lost his favourite target and the Indianapolis locker room lost one of its most revered leaders when Reggie Wayne was diagnosed Monday with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that will cost him the rest of the season. Dusty Imoo figured that Saturday would be a long day.The Los Angeles Kings goaltending development coach had already been called on to replace goaltending coach Bill Ranford, who was in Winnipeg participating in the alumni game that preceded the Heritage Classic between the Winnipeg Jets and Edmonton Oilers. With Kings franchise goaltender Jonathan Quick out with a groin injury, Imoo was also scrambling to help the team stabilize its situation in net.And that was all before Los Angeles expected starting goaltender, Jeff Zatkoff, left practice that day with a groin injury. Zatkoffs absence left the Kings with Peter Budaj as the lone goalie for their game that night against the Vancouver Canucks, and forced L.A. to call up Jack Campbell from its American Hockey League affiliate in nearby Ontario.Campbells recall had further repercussions. It left Imoos son, Jonah, as the Ontario Reigns only goalie. What ensued was a unique evening that the hockey world, not to mention the Imoo family, is still talking about.I knew it was an original situation and I could tell as the game approached that it was developing a life of its own, with the cameras and fans, Dusty Imoo said. Its been kind of crazy. I had no idea it would get this much traction.Traction from sports media is exactly what you get when a 46-year-old coach is forced to rush back to Ontario so he can serve as a backup in his 22-year-old sons first major pro start. When word started spreading on social media that Dusty would serve as Jonahs backup, the story took off. It happened so fast that the elder Imoo wasnt even able to make travel arrangements to Southern California for his wife, who lives with their three other children in Vancouver.Even several days later, Dusty and Jonah Imoo were still processing on the unique moment they shared on the ice.When I went into the dressing room and saw our stalls and gear and name tags next to each other, it was an unreal thing, said Dusty. Sitting next to him and getting our gear on together for a real professional hockey game, and his first one. That I could be there and do that with him was more than a dream come true. I was a teammate and I got a stool, but I didnt sit on it very much. I worked the gate and got right into the game. I was yelling at refs and having fun.The younger Imoo stopped 26 of 31 shots in a 5-4 overtime loss to the San Jose Barricudas. And while the press onslaught that followed kept asking him to discuss his one night as his fathers teammate, Jonah Imoo is mostly preoccupied with developing -- on his own merits -- as a goaltender.The more I play, the more comfortable I will feel, said Jonah. For my first game, I did feel pretty comfortable. Obviously it was a lot of fun. You want to play a little more just to build up more trustt.ddddddddddddAt least hell have someone other than his father backing him up. The Reign called up goaltender Jack Flinn from Manchester of the ECHL following Saturdays game and the Kings signed former NHL goaltender Anders Lindback to a professional tryout on Tuesday. Lindback must wait for his work visa to be processed before he can play.As memorable as their shared game was, Dusty Imoo has been fortunate to have his family around for many of his finest moments in the sport. When he earned his Japanese citizenship and backstopped the Japanese national team at the 1998 Nagano Olympic Games, his kids, including then-4-year-old Jonah, were there in full face paint, cheering on his overmatched squad. When he won a 2000 league title in Japan, where he played professionally for more than a decade, Dusty brought his youngest son, Makito, onto the ice. Just months old at the time, Makito Imoo even appeared in the Seibu Prince Rabbits celebratory team photo.But when it comes to indelible moments that combine Dusty Imoos love for his family and his sport, there might be a new standout.I was emotional at times. During the game not so much because it was so intense, said Dusty. But before the game, for sure. And then after, when I started reading stuff and seeing Jonahs interviews, that meant a lot.That sentiment is shared by his son.Its tough to explain how it felt. Something like that never happens, said Jonah. It was really cool having him there on the bench because he is my goalie coach and my dad. Hes given me tips my whole life. During the TV timeouts, he always had something good to say. Something reassuring and helpful.Life for the Imoo family mostly returned to normal after that AHL game. Jonah returned to practice, while Dustin flew to Vancouver the next morning to spend a few days with the rest of the family. But theyll be reunited during a weekend road trip that will see Ontario play three games in three nights.With Lindback and Flinn in the fray, Jonah will focus on retaining the starting job with Ontario. Meanwhile, his father will continue to find a way to stabilize the franchises goaltending situation. At least he wont be called on to serve as a backup again anytime soon.Im off the hook, he said, joking.Just days removed from this once-in-a-lifetime confluence of events, Dusty Imoo cant help but feel a little emotional about that wild night he shared with his son.I will always ... he said before pausing to correct himself. We will always have this moment. I know Jonahs going to go on and do other things, whether it be with the Kings or someone else. Hes going to have other memories. But well always have this. China Womens NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys China Wholesale NFL Camo Jerseys Discount NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Black Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Wholesale ' ' '