In Lynx preseason opener, Spanish guard shows potential

Nuria Martinez finally was on the floor for the Lynx on Friday.

The Lynx claimed Martinez on waivers from Sacramento on May 19, 2004, but had to wait almost six years for their point guard from Spain.

What Martinez offers is a 5-9, 151-pound jolt of energy. She started and played almost 30 minutes Friday as the shorthanded Lynx lost 87-78 to the Chicago Sky at the Gangelhoff Center on the campus of Concordia (St. Paul).

The Sky had four projected regular-season starters in their lineup for the exhibition game, the Lynx possibly one -- rookie Monica Wright -- because two Minnesota players recently had unexpected surgeries and others are reporting late because of overseas commitments.

Martinez signed with the Lynx on April 19 and arrived six days later for the start of training camp. She has been the caretaker at point guard until Lindsay Whalen reports. That will be Sunday.

"[Camp] is going good," Martinez said. "The players are playing hard. Every practice you learn something new. You have to pay attention all the time."

Her WNBA career has been on hold until now because Martinez either has been either playing for Spain's national team or was hurt.

Against the Sky, Martinez scored 10 points, had seven defensive rebounds and three assists. The negative? Six turnovers.

"I am not so happy with that," she said. "It's a lot but it's a first game. Everyone is excited. I'll keep working."

Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said she likes Martinez. "She advances the ball really, really well and that fits into what we want to do," Reeve said. "She has some things to learn. She has not played in our league in some time. This stint in our league will be better than her first one."

That prediction seems a certainty. Martinez played two minutes for the Lynx on July 7, 2005, then left the next day to join Spain's national team. "It was important to us, so I made the decision," said Martinez, 26. "Now I have grown up a little, so I think it will be better."

She has played for Spain in the past two Olympics. In Beijing in 2008, she also watched Timberwolves draft pick Ricky Rubio play for her country's men's team. "I like how [Rubio] plays," she said. "He reads a lot of situations. I always learn something from each player I like."

"Of course, I'd like to play [more ]," Martinez said. "I am ambitious, but I know my role here and I will try to do my best."

Etc. • Rashanda McCants had 11 first-half points for the Lynx, then sat out the second because of a sprained right quadriceps.