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. Michael King Jersey . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. Jacoby Ellsbury Jersey . Speaking Thursday on TSN 1050 Thursday, the Leafs GM also touched on the questions surrounding the teams leadership and the struggles of his big-name free-agent signing. “Its not from lack of effort from the coaching staff. http://www.customyankeesjersey.com/custom-brett-gardner-jersey-large-1324i.html . But by the time the game started, the Toronto Raptors forward felt even worse. And, for three quarters, it showed as Gay shot a woeful three-for-13 from the field. Luke Voit Jersey . The third-ranked Ivanovic, who won the event in 2008 and 10, served five aces and broke Wickmayer, also a former winner in 2009, five times. "The result looked easier than it really was," Ivanovic said. Jordan Montgomery Jersey . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. MILWAUKEE -- San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich cant figure out why his team plays so much better on the road than at home.As long as they keep winning, Popovich will gladly take the results.LaMarcus Aldridge was credited for the go-ahead basket with 21.2 seconds left after Giannis Antetokounmpo was whistled for goaltending, completing the Spurs rally from 15 points down midway through the third quarter in a 97-96 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night.You dont win every game by 20. They played well. Thats how they stuck with us. Theyre young and athletic and hungry, Popovich said in typical gruff fashion.What are we, the Magic Johnson Lakers with Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar) and everybody? Were just like everybody else, he added.Milwaukee had one last shot to retake the lead, but Mirza Teletovic missed an open 3-pointer from the right corner with 3.9 seconds left. Aldridge secured the rebound and the Spurs ran out the clock.The Bucks went the final 2:25 without a bucket.You cannot afford to make a lot of mistakes and put them in the game, Antetokounmpo said. They can take away the game as they did tonight.San Antonio extended its season-opening road winning streak to 12 games in thrilling fashion. Aldridge had 18 points. Kawhi Leonard finished with 22 points and nine boards.The Spurs improved to 17-4 overall, but dont ask Popovich about the home-road disparity.I dont care, I have no clue, he said before the game. You ask me, Im the coach, Im supposed to know? Ask me about the .500 at home. Start with the bad.Aldridge had 18 points, while Kawhi Leonard finished with 21 points and nine rebounds.BUCKS BALLJabari Parker had 23 points, picking up the slack for much of the fourth quarter with Antetokounmpo on the bench with five fouls.Parker slashed through the lane for buckets and rebounds. But the team went scoreless after Parkers running bucket with 2:25 left for a three-point lead.You can also grow from losing, too, coach Jason Kidd said.ddddddddddddI think tonight, we can learn a lot from our mistakes.Antetokounmpo finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds.DEDMON ONThe Spurs bench keyed the second-half rally. San Antonio trailed 57-42 with 7:27 left in the third before reserves Dewayne Dedmon (10 points) and Nicholas Laprovittola (five assists) gave the team a spark.Dedmon made them guard a different way because he was at the rim. He was really special for us, Popovich said.TENSE MOMENTTensions rose late in the third quarter after Dedmon and Monroe grappled for a rebound. San Antonios Davis Bertans and Milwaukees Michael Beasley were ejected for their roles in the shoving match.TIP-INS:Spurs: G Tony Parker started after missing the previous two games with a thigh contusion. He had six points and five assists in 18 minutes before limping off with about 9 minutes left in the third quarter after falling hard to the floor and appearing to grab at his left knee. Parker stayed on the bench the rest of the night, and Popovich said he could be out for a while. ... The Spurs hit their first three 3-point shots of the game before going 1 of 11 from behind the arc the rest of the first half. They trailed 48-35 at halftime.Bucks: Antetokounmpo was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week after averaging 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 3.7 steals and 3.0 blocks per game. The Bucks went 3-0 last week, including a 17-point home win over the defending NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers.UP NEXTSpurs: Play the second game of a three-game swing through the Midwest at Minnesota on Tuesday. San Antonio has won seven straight against the Timberwolves.Bucks: Host Portland on Wednesday. Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts was the Bucks head coach from 2005-07. ' ' '