Will Lynx make WNBA history in Phoenix on Tuesday?

Lindsay Whalen needs seven points on Tuesday against Phoenix to reach the 3,000-point milestone in her career. Lynx backcourt partner Seimone Augustus needs 21. You have to like their chances of both reaching it -- which would be a WNBA first for teammates in the same game -- against the Mercury.

Phoenix tries to outscore opponents, but is only 1-5 in its last six games. That Mercury slide started with a home loss to the Lynx and includes a second loss at Target Center.

Here is how the Lynx have done against Phoenix this year and Augustus' and Whalen's stats in those games:

July 13 at Target Center, Phoenix 112, Lynx 105

Seimone Augustus 22 pts., 9x17 on FGs, incl. 0x1 on threes, 4x4 on FTs

Lindsay Whalen 19 pts., 9x15 on FGs, 1x1 on threes, 0x1 on FT

July 20 at U.S. Airways Center, Lynx 106, Phoenix 98

Whalen 16 pts., 7x12 on FGs, 1x2 on threes, 1x4 on FTs

Aug. 2 at Target Center, Lynx 90, Phoenix 73

Augustus 21 pts., 7x13 on FGs, 0x1 on threes, 7x10 on FTs

Whalen 11 pts., 4x11 on FGs, no threes attempted, 3x4 on FTs

REACHING 3,0000 TOGETHER

None of those twosomes did it in the same game, although Taj McWilliams-Franklin, now the Lynx center at age 40, and the late Margo Dydek were close. They reached the same milestone only two days apart for Connecticut during the 2006 seasons.

The short list:

05/23/2006 CHA vs. LA Tangela Smith
07/27/2006 CHA at MIN Sheri Sam

08/11/2006 CT vs. IND Taj McWilliams-Franklin
08/13/2006 CT at DET Margo Dydek

07/17/2009 SEA at SAC Sue Bird
08/15/2009 SEA at ATL Swin Cash

Whalen and Augustus are the two closest to becoming the 35th and 36th. But four other WNBA are within 100 points of joining the club, including two Phoenix teammates:

Michelle Snow, Chicago, needs 55 points

Sophia Young, San Antonio, 68

Candice Dupree, Phoenix, 89

Marie Ferdinand-Harris, Phoenix, 97

The two were DeLisha Milton-Jones of Washington and Tamecka Dixon of since disbanded Houston. Milton-Jones, who now plays for Los Angeles, reached 3,000 in a 91-87 overtime victory over the Lynx. Those were the dark days in franchise history. The Lynx blew a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter in losing their eighth game in a row.

How things have changed.

ROAD WARRIOR

Whalen is especially playing well on the road, During the Lynx' current five-game road winning streak -- a franchise record -- Whalen is averaging 20 points per game on on 60.0 percent shooting, 4.4 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.60 steals.

Date Opponent Min FG-A 3P-A FT-A Rb As St TO Bk Pts
---- -------------- ----- ----- ---- ---- -- -- -- -- -- ---
6/30 at Tulsa 25:53 9-14 0-0 3-4 4 5 1 2 0 21
7/15 at Indiana 30:37 4- 5 2-2 6-6 4 7 1 3 0 16
7/20 at Phoenix 32:09 7-12 1-2 1-4 3 8 2 2 0 16
7/31 at San Antonio 29:52 10-19 1-2 2-5 7 6 4 2 0 23
8/ 7 at Los Angeles 31:48 9-15 1-3 5-8 4 8 0 2 0 24

There have been 10 winning streaks in the 15-year history of the WNBA of 10 games or more. The Lynx are on the verge of cracking that short list.

Minnesota has won nine games in a row -- and 11 of 12 -- going into Tuesday's game at Phoenix. The Mercury are the last team to beat them on July 13.

10 longest WNBA winning streaks:

1. 18 -- Los Angeles 6/26/01-8/11/01

2. 15 -- Houston 6/27/98-7/30/98

4. (tie) 12 -- Los Angeles 6/17/00-7/ 9/00

12 -- Los Angeles 7/14/00-8/ 8/00

12 -- Connecticut 7/16/06-8/ 9/06

7. 11 -- Indiana 6/9/09-7/17/09

8. (tie) 10 -- Houston 6/23/00-7/12/00

10 -- New York 7/27/10-8/19/10