Los Angeles, CA – It feels like deja vu with the 2017 WNBA Finals.
Just like in 2016, the Minnesota Lynx hosted the Los Angeles Sparks for the first two games of the finals, and both ended up sharing the spoils of the first two matchups.
And just like the 2016 finals, the first two games were tight and intense contests.
For the 2017 Finals, the Sparks host the Lynx for games 3 and 4, and will head into Friday’s third game hoping to take command of a 1-1 series tie at STAPLES Center at 6:00 pm.
The second game of the finals ended in intense and confusing circumstances.
Sparks guard Alana Beard turned the ball over attempting to inbound the ball and infringing on the five-second rule with about 13 seconds remaining.
It seemed all but over until the Lynx guard Seimone Augustus coughed up the inbound to give the ball back to the Sparks.
But as the Sparks tried to find a shot, Game 1 hero Chelsea Gray turned the ball over, and the Lynx leveled the series 1-1.
Game 2’s contest was decided by two points after the Lynx led the game in double-digits early on before the Sparks fought back to make it a two-point contest.
If that wasn’t enough, the Sparks led 28-2 in the first quarter of Game 1 before the Lynx clawed their way back to even it midway into the final quarter.
The two fought back and forth before Gray hit the game-winner to claim Game 1 by a single point.
Least to say, Game 3 will hopefully be as intense and gritty as the first two was in Minnesota.
The Sparks hosted the Lynx last season for Game 3’s dominant 92-75 win to take a 2-1 lead.
Nneka Ogwumike is averaging 11 points and 9.5 rebounds in two games, and Candace Parker is averaging 16 points, 8.5 boards and five assists. Gray is averaging 21 points.
WNBA regular season MVP Sylvia Fowles struggled in the first half of Game 1 only to bounce back in Game 2 and is averaging a double-double of 17.5 points and 10 rebounds in the finals. Maya Moore is averaging 20 points for the Lynx.
