Lynx players and those on the Chicago Sky, too, will wear special jerseys with the Roman numeral IX on the front during their 11:30 a.m. game on Saturday at Target Center. The jerseys will commemorate the 40th anniversary of the passage of Title IX.

Said Timberwolves and Lynx President Chris Wright in a news release, "Title IX has played a monumental role in the advancement of women's athletics. We are incredibly excited to honor all of the pioneers that have furthered the development of women's athletics."

During he nationally televised game on ESPN, the Lynx will pay tribute to pioneers in women's athletics. Among them:

* WNBA legend Cynthia Cooper

* six members from the All American Red Heads, a pioneering women's basketball team which will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this year

* Mary Jo Kane, director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls and Women in Sport

* Minnesotan Olympians Gigi Marvin (hockey) and Carrie Tollefson (track)

Title IX became law on June 23, 1972, stating that "no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity."

BIG GAME

Saturday's game will also be a big showdown between the Lynx, the first place team in the West, and the Chicago Sky, 7-2 and second in the East.

The Lynx have won their last three meetings with the Sky.

ETC.

* The WNBA players of the week are Los Angeles forward Candace Parker and Connecticut center Tina Charles for the week of June 11-17. ... The 10-1 Lynx have not had a player honored yet.

* The Lynx opened the fourth quarter of their three-point loss to Seattle on Sunday with a 13-1 run. That closed a 57-44 deficit to 58-57.

* Seattle center Ann Wauters needed one rebound against the Lynx to reach 1,000 rebounds for her career and eight points for 2,000. She achieved the first milestone.

* The 10 points the Lynx scored in the first quarter against the Storm was their lowest output in a quarter this season, so was the 62 total points.