What to many WNBA fans was a strong possibility when the season first commenced back during the late Spring and early Summer will now be a reality. The WNBA Finals will once again feature the Minnesota Lynx and Los Angeles Sparks—undoubtedly the two best teams in the league as was the case last season.
How did both teams get there?
Photo Credit: Martinez Monsivais/AP
Minnesota arrived at this point by virtue of their Game 3 semifinals victory over the Washington Mystics at Capital One Arena. The final of that game to complete the Lynx’s sweep was 81-70.
A major difference came towards the end of the first half and the start of the second—when Minnesota trailed the Mystics 39-32, then went on a 17-0 run that allowed them to assume a 49-39 lead midway through the third quarter. The Lynx outscored the Mystics 21-14 as well in that third quarter.
Three-point shooting also proved to be quite the catalyst. Minnesota made half of their three point shots while the Mystics were only four-of-11 from three-point range…and two of those four were threes by Kristi Toliver.
Maya Moore finished with 21 points and Seimone Augustus chimed in with 18. Sylvia Fowles added 17 points along with 14 rebounds for a double-double.
As for Washington, Elena Delle Donne had 15 points and eight rebounds and Toliver contributed 13 points and five assists.
Photo Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Out west, late-game heroics by way of Candace Parker proved to be the difference in Los Angeles’ 89-87 victory over the Phoenix Mercury at the Talking Stick Resort Arena to complete its sweep over the Mercury.
Late in the fourth, LA led 87-84 before Diana Taurasi drained a three-pointer to tie it up at 87 apiece. Meaning that the Mercury were ten seconds shy of forcing overtime with a shot to extend their season.
Parker was having none of it as she drove to the lane, penetrated the Phoenix defense, and got to the basket which put the Sparks up 89-87 with just over two seconds remaining. Brittney Griner attempted a game-tying midrange jumper to tie it and force overtime once again, but it was unsuccessful and Los Angeles celebrated in jubilation that they would be returning to the Finals to defend their title.
Odyssey Sims led the Sparks with 22 points and Candace Parker added 21 points with seven rebounds and 11 assists. Chelsea Gray had 14 points and Jantel Lavender contributed 11 points off the bench. Nneka Ogwumike had only nine points but still pulled down 12 rebounds.
For the Mercury, Taurasi led with 22 points and five assists. Griner and Camille Little each had 18 points and eight rebounds. Leilani Mitchell scored 12 points.
The Sparks won despite only shooting 35 percent from behind the three-point arc against a Phoenix team that shot 65 percent from the same range.
By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)
