Minnesota Lynx Back Atop The Western Conference

NEW YORK (AP) — The Minnesota Lynx were the preseason favorite to win the Western Conference and a third WNBA title in five seasons. Until this week, they were looking up in the standings.

Now they are back on top of the West ahead of the surprising Tulsa Shock, who won eight of their first nine games. The Shock have faltered on their current road trip and Minnesota has moved into first place.

"It's not that we were playing poorly, just that some other teams were playing well," Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said.

Maya Moore's numbers are down from last season when she was the league's MVP. She's averaging 17 points, almost seven fewer than last season, and she's shooting a career-worst 40 percent from the field. Still, Reeve isn't concerned.

"She'll get it going," the veteran coach said. "Everyone expects her to put up 30 points a night, but she's doing other things to help us be successful."

The Lynx (8-2) lost early on to Phoenix and then to the Shock. Minnesota also found itself down 18 points at Seattle before rallying for the three-point victory.

"That's one of those games we'll look back on later in the season and say how it was a turning point for us." Reeve said.

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