It was celebration time in Minnesota as the 10th season of the Lynx kicked off. Three members of the original Lynx (Charmin Smith, Tonya Edwards and Sonja Tate) watched the game from the team bench. Another was playing for the opposing team. And it was the Lynx rookies who shined in their debut as Minnesota downed Detroit 84-70.

Candice Wiggins was a spark off the bench on both ends of the floor. Nicky Anosike showed she was not intimidated by the strong post play of the Shock. And third round pick Charde Houston perhaps surprised some by leading all scorers with 21 points in just over 16 minutes of action.

"It is the new Lynx,'' Wiggins said. "It is a new chapter. What's nice is that it isn't just one person. It is a team, a program on the rise. We have great energy, and we love playing. That is what will drive us.''

The young team was also the one who showed more poise. Detroit Coach Bill Laimbeer: "What surprised me was our turnovers. We didn't take care of the ball like we are supposed to. I thought our energy level wasn't necessarily where it needed to be also. Those were the two disappointments tonight."

Plenette Pierson and Katie Smith continued their strong play for the Shock by combining for 32 points. But the Lynx saw a little more balance with 10 players scoring and playing at least 10 minutes.

It's only one game, but it is a step in the right direction for the Lynx franchise and their fans.