WNBA Finals Preview: Minnesota Lynx vs. Los Angeles Sparks

(photo credit: westsidestorynewspaper.com)

The Women's National Basketball Association finals are almost in full swing. Two teams, the Minnesota Lynx and the Los Angeles Sparks, battled to be the final two teams to go head-to-head to lift the trophy.

The Minnesota Lynx have a talented roster, including four women who were on the USA Women's Basketball Team that won gold in Rio de Janiero this summer. Lindsey Whalen, Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, and Seimone Augustus are the four gold medalist on the Lynx's roster.

In their three postseason games, the Lynx have had only three players not see action in all three games. Keisha Hampton and Anna Cruz both appeared in two games while Janel McCarville only appeared in a single game.

Cheryl Reeve, head coach of the Lynx, has started Moore, Whalen, Fowles, Augustus, and Rebekkah Brunson in all three matches. Standing tall at 6-foot-2, Brunson leads the team in rebounds, with an average of 8.6 per game (offensive and defensive rebounds totaled).

As for the Sparks, the team is packed with players looking for their first trophy or medal this year, as there are no Team USA participants from Rio on the roster. Head coach Brian Agler has started Candace Parker, Nneka Ogwumike, Kristi Toliver, Essence Carson, and Alana Beard in all four of their games in the postseason.

Parker, the 6-foot-4 forward, leads the team in offensive and defensive rebounds with 10.3 per game. Four players have not participated in all four games. Sandrine Gruda has appeared in three games while Jelena Dubljevic, Ann Wauters, and Evgeniia Belyakova have appeared in two games.

The WNBA Finals game one kicks off on Oct. 9 at 3 p.m. ET.