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Since the Lynx began their run of excellence in 2011, theyve wanted to be equally good on both ends of the floor. That might sound simplistic -- who doesnt want that, right? -- but the reality for even most really good WNBA teams is theyre probably going to be a little better at either offense or defense.Minnesota, though, has proved to be excellent at both for a long time. Now the Lynx will take on an opponent in the WNBA Finals, the Los Angeles Sparks, that this season can say the same thing.Were kind of meeting our match, if you will, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. How we get things done is a little different. But both teams can score, both can defend. Its going to be a fight.The WNBAs 20th anniversary season comes to an end with a Finals matchup featuring star power, intriguing storylines and two coaches with a lot of respect for each others ability to strategize and prepare their teams.Its the matchup that everyone recognized back in June was going to be the WNBAs most competitive rivalry this season. The Lynx finished 28-6, and the Sparks 26-8, and both got byes into the semifinals under the new playoff format.The Lynx then swept Phoenix, and the Sparks beat Chicago 3-1. Theyll start their best-of-five WNBA Finals series Sunday in Minneapolis (ABC, 3 p.m. ET). The Lynx hope to tie the former Houston Comets record of four titles, and the Sparks will try to win their first championship since back-to-back titles in 2001-02.The Lynx have been able to maintain their hunger even though their core group -- Maya Moore, Lindsay Whalen, Seimone Augustus and Rebekkah Brunson -- has three championships. That says a great deal about their chemistry.None of the Sparks have won a WNBA title, and only one player on their roster, Ann Wauters, has been in the WNBA Finals before. She was a starter in 2008 for San Antonio, which was swept by Detroit. Now shes a reserve near the end of her career -- she turns 36 on Oct. 12 -- but with another chance to try to win a championship.For players such as Candace Parker (all nine seasons with the Sparks) and Kristi Toliver (seven of her eight seasons with L.A.), Tuesdays 95-75 victory over Chicago helped put to rest some of the playoff ghosts that had been haunting the franchise the past several years.Then theres Alana Beard, who is Los Angeles longest-tenured WNBA player. She has been in the league since 2004 and has played 11 seasons; she missed 2010 and 11 dealing with severe ankle problems. (Wauters entered the league before Beard, in 2000, but has played nine seasons.)Beards first six years were with Washington, which has never gone to the WNBA Finals. So you can imagine how much this means to her.And its also a very big deal to Nneka Ogwumike, who like Parker was a No. 1 draft pick for the Sparks. Ogwumike was the league MVP this year; Parker won that honor in 2008 and 2013.One member of the Sparks who has WNBA championship experience is coach Brian Agler, who led Seattle to the 2010 title. He also guided Columbus to the only two ABL championships, in 1997 and 98.The Sparks arent just happy to have made the WNBA Finals, though. They know they can compete with Minnesota. The Sparks won one of their three games in the regular season against the Lynx: 94-76 on June 24 at Minnesota. And their two losses in Los Angeles -- June 21 and Sept. 6 -- were both by just three points.But the Sparks also know there is no opponent they could face with more experience in what it takes to prevail in the WNBA Finals. The Lynx have advanced that far four of the past five years, winning three of them.Well see how it plays out, but on paper the series is exactly what youd hope for from the WNBA Finals.Max Pacioretty Golden Knights Jersey . The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that the veteran forward will return to the teams line-up on Saturday night when the Habs visit the Nashville Predators. Max Pacioretty Jersey . The formidable trio of Canadian receivers -- individually known as Chris Getzlaf, Rob Bagg and Andy Fantuz -- will share the field at Mosaic Stadium one more time on Sunday. http://www.goldenknightssale.com/authentic-alex-tuch-golden-knights-jersey/ . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. Paul Stastny Golden Knights Jersey . Booth picked up 65 caps after making her national team debut in 2002 at the age of 17. She most recently played for Sky Blue FC of the National Womens Soccer League. "It just felt like it was my time to move on," she said in a phone interview from her hometown of Burlington, Ont. William Carrier Jersey . Their 38th instalment is arguably their biggest fight card to date, including three-title fights and a main event which was selected by the fans. The promotion boasts 14-straight years of business and is operated by MFC president Mark Pavelich, who is often overlooked in this country for the foundation hes established for MMA in Canada.After a day of traveling around in China, meeting and greeting the masses,?Golden State Warriors?guard Stephen Curry was in a good mood.Having seen my video of my game against New York Knicks big man Kristaps Porzingis, the reigning two-time MVP suggested we use the court in Guangzhou, China -- where Under Armour had just finished a consumer event in front of 1,500 fans.He then offered to play a game.I feared it was H-O-R-S-E. Luckily, Curry knew that I sstunk at basketball.ddddddddddddThe game took two minutes and somehow ... I beat him.I was shooting from the high-school 3-point line (the top of the key) and made one shot. Curry -- who shot 28 percent on shots beyond 35-feet last season -- had three attempts from half-court to best that, but he was off the mark on all three. ' ' '