lamented 7-1 loss in the World Cup semifinals. We dont

The Minnesota Lynx continue their quest for a second consecutive WNBA championship on Friday when they play host to the Phoenix Mercury in Game 2 of their semifinal series at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.Top-seeded Minnesota rolled to a 113-95 victory over eighth-seeded Phoenix in the series opener on Wednesday. The Lynx can take a commanding lead in the best-of-five series with another win in Game 2 before the set moves to Phoenix for Game 3 and, if necessary, Game 4.The Lynx earned a double-bye under the WNBAs new playoff format and had not played since concluding the regular season Sept. 17, but they looked sharp in the series opener against Phoenix. Minnesota started the second quarter with a 19-4 run and went on to set a WNBA record for more points scored in regulation in a playoff game.The Lynx shot a franchise-playoff record 63.9 percent, made 6 of 12 from 3-point range and amassed a 38-20 rebounding advantage. Maya Moore scored 31 points on 12-of-19 shooting to lead six players who scored in double figures for Minnesota. Lindsay Whalen recorded 19 points and seven assists while Sylvia Fowles had 16 points and 10 rebounds.They pretty much dominated us in every facet of the game, Mercury star Diana Taurasi said.Taurasi scored 25 points for Phoenix, which upset Indiana and New York in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Brittney Griner scored 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting but grabbed only two rebounds. The Mercury shot 53.5 percent from the field and made 8 of 14 from beyond the arc.Neither coach was really happy with the defensive effort, Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve said. No question that well both be hard at work improving that for the second 40 minutes that we play. I was obviously pleased with our offense.Both teams could be short-handed at the center position. Reeve said backup Janel McCarville was unavailable in Game 1 because of back spasms. 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RIO DE JANEIRO -- The fans chant their names, wave their flags and do a little samba in their seats whenever the Brazilians take the sand at the Copacabana Olympic beach volleyball venue.If its a lot of pressure for the hometown teams, theyre handling it well.All four Brazilian teams advanced out of pool play at the Olympic tournament, and three won their first matches of the knockout round on Friday and Saturday. After a disappointing fourth-place finish as hosts of the soccer World Cup in 2014, Brazils other national sport has thrived on its hometown sand.It is not a pressure for us, said Barbara, a Rio native, who with her partner Agatha beat China on Friday to reach the quarterfinals. We are living the dream now. Inside our hearts is joy.Beach volleyball is a passion in Brazil, as much a recreational sport on the Copacabana shore as soccer or surfing or sunbathing. And that has led to Olympic success, with the country winning 11 of 30 total medals since the sport was added to the Summer Games in 1996.So dominant were the Brazilians -- and Americans, who have claimed nine medals -- that quotas were created to limit each country to two entries (per gender) in the Olympics.And when Rio de Janeiro won the rights to host the 2016 Olympics, it was only natural that the beach volleyball venue would be on Copacabana.I fell so lucky, so honored, as a first-time Olympian to be here in my home, Barbara said. I am so proud to be a part of this Olympic year at home.The fans appear to enjoy it, too.With green and yellow shirts filling the stands and Brazilian music wafting over the security barriers onto Copacabana beach beyond, the Olympic venue has been shaking at times with the cheers for the four hometown teams.Agatha and Barbara were the first to reach the quarterfinals, followed later on Friday by the defending world champions Talita and Larissa. Alison and Bruno reached the round of 8 by beating Spain on Saturday, and the party was only slightly spoiled when the No. 2 mens team, Pedro and Evandro, lost to Russia.Still, the crowd gave the Brazilians a standing ovation on their way off the court, though part of the crowd was certainly acknowledging the 21-16, 14-21, 15-10 victory by Russia as well.Here on Copacabana, they know how to play, Russias Nikita Liamin said. TThey know the good play, and they know how it is done.ddddddddddddTwo-time Olympian Ana Paula, who is working with the stadium entertainment crew in Rio, agreed. At one break in the match, she introduced American Randy Stoklos, a five-time world champion and volleyball hall of famer who played before the sport was added to the Olympics.We might have built this stadium, but the Brazilians really made this sport, he said to a huge cheer.All of the Brazilians knew who he was, Ana Paula said. Its because Brazil really, really loves beach volleyball. Its because volleyball -- its been in our DNA.Ana Paula said she thinks volleyball and beach volleyball have even surpassed soccer in her homeland -- in part because of the soccer teams much-lamented 7-1 loss in the World Cup semifinals. We dont talk about the World Cup, she said with a smile.By contrast, the beach volleyball players seem to be thriving under pressure.I dont think we are going to see anything like that in volleyball, said Bruno, whose uncle Oscar Schmidt is a basketball Hall of Famer and one of Brazils most celebrated athletes. The crowd is so happy, so full of happy people.And thats been a boost for all of the players -- even Brazils opponents.Spains Elsa Baquerizo and Liliana Fernandez said they were excited when the pools were drawn and they knew they would be playing Agatha and Barbara.At the beginning, I felt like, `Oh, my God. The whole stadium is going to fall down on me, Liliana said after beating the Brazilians. But we wanted to play them on Copacabana.The Spaniards had already clinched a spot in the knockout round, so they didnt feel the full pressure of 12,000 fans rooting against them.When Germanys Britta Buthe and Karla Borger drew defending world champions Talita and Larissa in the playoff round of 16, their coaches tried to cheer them up.Everyone was saying, `Oh, its such a tough draw for you guys. But we were really excited, Buthe said after the Brazilians eliminated them in straight sets.We would have liked it if we would have played for it and won. We werent able to experience it, she said. But still I think this is one of our best memories, even if it did end. ' ' '