USA - Lynx, Dream to trade blows in Finals again

PHOENIX (WNBA) - The Minnesota Lynx and Atlanta Dream are going to square off in the WNBA Finals for the second time in three years.

On Sunday, the Lynx, led by their USA Olympic gold medal winning duo of Maya Moore and Seimone Augustus, completed a 2-0 sweep of the Phoenix Mercury in the Western Conference Finals while Atlanta punched their ticket to the championship showdown a 2-0 win over Indiana.

Minnesota followed up an 85-62 Game 1 rout at home with a 72-65 triumph at Phoenix in Game 2.

In that second victory, Moore had 27 points and Augustus 22.

Minnesota beat the Dream to capture the title in 2011 but they fell in the WNBA Finals to Indiana last year.

"Each year is its own journey," Moore said.

"We have some new faces that haven’t had the experience that our leaders have. Some of us middle-aged players, three, four, five years, it’s really exciting to feel that energy from some of them who haven’t been at this stage yet. It’s refreshing. It’s fun for all of us."

Phoenix had been looking to reach the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2009, when they beat Indiana 3-2 for their second crown.

Atlanta prevailed in the Eastern Conference title tilt thanks to an 84-79 victory in Game 1 and 67-53 success in Sunday's Game 2.

In that second win, USA international Angel McCoughtry erupted for 27 points while Brazil national team center Erika De Souza, slowed by a right ankle injury, weighed in with 12 points and eight boards.

Atlanta will play in the Finals for the third time in the last four seasons.

Seattle swept the Dream 3-0 in 2010 and Minnesota also won their showdown in 2011, 3-0.

Indiana did well just to reach the Eastern Conference Finals this season because they began the year with just one win in their first eight games and had to play much of the year without Katie Douglas and Australian Erin Phillips.

They ended their campaign with 16 wins and 18 defeats.

Indiana coach Lin Dunn said: "For us to get this far was huge.

"This season to me was like a test of your character. We just want to reload our gun and have a few more bullets."

The best-of-five WNBA Finals tip off on Sunday at Minnesota.

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