OT...Minnesota Indiana final...

[Woof 101]

Obviously a great match up. I do not get to see many WNBA games but had to make some time for this. Hard to believe that Muffies Flop 101 course gets to the next level. Maya had to sit with two fouls with time left in the first due to a shove with her arm. Did she make it obvious? Yes, but to see the player back pedal faster than most run forward was simply priceless.
Obviously foot work in every direction is the basis of all sports and makes any player with it down better than the next. Using it to draw a foul has to be an art form. Exaggerating to this degree should be a double foul like in football and off setting.

 

[Blue Huskie]

This game is setting back the WNBA 10 years. What a sloppy crummy game. Not just the players horrible shooting but the refs too. Phantom calls are made while some massive contact is ignored. Not a good showcase for the game unfortunately. Glad it's looking good for MINN but not happy with the play.

 

[MilfordHusky]

It's been a great series, but tonight's game is a clunker. Indy can't shoot or hold on to the ball.

Go Maya, Renee, Asjha, and Kalana!

 

[MilfordHusky]

Indy has scored 17 points in the last 22+ minutes.

 

[alexrgct]

Hasn't been the most fun game to watch, but I am ecstatic with how things are going score-wise. Maya has had a poor game 5 but a great finals overall. Love Monty at the end of of the third quarter. Sylvia has been phenomenal!

Cannot wait for this game to be over and series clinched!

 

[HGN]

Lynx pulling away in final quarter.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Field General Montgomery has been outstanding. Her career has been resurrected by filling in for an injured Lindsay.

 

[alexrgct]

OK, five minutes to go. Don't give Indy any hope here...

 

[alexrgct]

Whoever wins finals MVP, no one should forget who clinched this comfy Game Five to be played at home...

 

[MilfordHusky]

UConn has not lost consecutive games since March 1993. Maya Moore has not had back-to-back seasons without a championship since ... forever. 3-4 in high school; 2-4 at UConn; 3-5 in the W; 3-3 in China; 1-1 in Spain; 1-1 in Euroleague; 2-2 in WCs; 1-1 in the Olympics.

 

[sarals24]

UConn has not lost consecutive games since March 1993. Maya Moore has not had back-to-back seasons without a championship since ... forever. 3-4 in high school; 2-4 at UConn; 3-5 in the W; 3-3 in China; 1-1 in Spain; 1-1 in Euroleague; 2-2 in WCs; 1-1 in the Olympics.

That's amazing.

 

[alexrgct]

And the finals MVP goes to...

...Sylvia.

Maya deserved it, but Syl's performances in Games Two and Five make for a strong argument.

 

[NoelAustin]

UConn has not lost consecutive games since March 1993. Maya Moore has not had back-to-back seasons without a championship since ... forever. 3-4 in high school; 2-4 at UConn; 3-5 in the W; 3-3 in China; 1-1 in Spain; 1-1 in Euroleague; 2-2 in WCs; 1-1 in the Olympics.

I think that being Olympic team MVP is the only trophy she has not yet been handed.

 

[MilfordHusky]

So Syl was sitting at home in July wondering if she would be playing this season. Three months later, she has a championship and Finals MVP trophy. Nice turnabout of fortunes.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I think that being Olympic team MVP is the only trophy she has not yet been handed.

Be patient!

 

[MilfordHusky]

Whoever wins finals MVP, no one should forget who clinched this comfy Game Five to be played at home...

Home court advantage was critical.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

Yes the game 5 was a clinker but was it Fever terrible or MN defense finally got organized and got the job done?
Big Syl deserved the MOP, she finally put together 2 1/2's of great BB!
The refs as usual stunk the place up! When will WNBA SUITS wise-up and get refs that know something about BB! They are really worthless! It hurts the League!
It was a really rough season for MN with the injuries to Augustus, Whalen, & Brunson! You can tell the season took it's toll with Augustus, Reeve, and several others in tears at the end!
I think the key for the MN win besides Syl was Brunson finally stepped her game up to the level everyone is accustomed to, a double/double!
MN ? for 2016 is can they finally win back-to-back titles?

 

[UcMiami]

MN ? for 2016 is can they finally win back-to-back titles?

Good question - it will be a strange year next year with the break for the olympics, and with most foreign players not showing up for the first half of the year so they can train with their national teams. MN has the advantage of being mostly USA - Anna Cruz is the only one likely to be missing for NT duty.

 

[NoelAustin]

Good question - it will be a strange year next year with the break for the olympics, and with most foreign players not showing up for the first half of the year so they can train with their national teams. MN has the advantage of being mostly USA - Anna Cruz is the only one likely to be missing for NT duty.

There is going to be such a concentration of talent in MN and Phoenix, especially with Bonner and Griner getting better and DT returning. This could turn into one great rivalries in sports.

 

[MilfordHusky]

There is going to be such a concentration of talent in MN and Phoenix, especially with Bonner and Griner getting better and DT returning. This could turn into one great rivalries in sports.

A classic heavyweight matchup like Frazier v. Ali.

 

[EricSD]

And the finals MVP goes to...

...Sylvia.

Maya deserved it, but Syl's performances in Games Two and Five make for a strong argument.

So much for the "Sylvia shouldn't be on Team USA for the 2016 Olympics..."!! My point is, some people were pointing to her less than stellar statistics this season suggesting she should maybe be left off the US National Team. Not so fast!

 

[UcMiami]

Great turnout in MN - 19K at the arena, the place was rocking, with the after party at Prince's mansion!
I am surprised that MN doesn't make more noise in WCBB - after Whalen left they dropped off the map pretty much. With that kind of fan support a dynamic coach out to be able to get something going there.

Overall good attendance 12K, 11K, 16K, 11K, 19K = 69K for 5 games.

 

[NoelAustin]

Great turnout in MN - 19K at the arena, the place was rocking, with the after party at Prince's mansion!
I am surprised that MN doesn't make more noise in WCBB - after Whalen left they dropped off the map pretty much. With that kind of fan support a dynamic coach out to be able to get something going there.

Overall good attendance 12K, 11K, 16K, 11K, 19K = 69K for 5 games.

19K attendance in the final game; even though you are rounding up, I think they said it was a record for Minnesota. Think of the lost revenues had Minnesota closed out the series in the fourth game.

 

[UConnCat]

Richard Deitsch of SI did an interview with Geno after that game -- article not out yet -- and Deitsch tweeted this quote:

Richard DeitschVerified account‏@richarddeitsch
"I've never coached two better human beings than @seimoneaugustus and @Lindsay_13." - UConn WBB coach Geno Auriemma, today.

Deitsch said Geno had some great things to say about Maya which I'm sure we'll see in his written story.

Now, contrast that tweet and quote with the tweet below which was posted right after Maya made the shot to win Game 4. This tweet is from the person who writes about the LadyVols and I believe is writing a book about Pat Summitt's final season as head coach.

Maria M. Cornelius ‏@mmcornelius Oct 9
Love watching @IndianaFever, but the opponent is repulsive to me.

Repulsive. A team with Maya, Whalen, Siemone, Brunson, etc. is repulsive. #WatchMe #Don'tReadHer

 

[UConn990411]

Maria seems like one of the most unpleasant human beings on the planet.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

Maria M. Cornelius is the head moderator of the TN Vol site THE SUMMITT! She is the one still pushing the VOL fans anti-Geno/anti-UCONN! She puts out her videos on the State of Vols WBB that are either sick/psychotic or hilarious in her behavior!
After a really painful TN loss a couple years ago she literally cried for 20 minutes on how can this happen, the coaching staff has to be changed, blah, blah, blah! Then when D. DeShields signed on to transfer to TN she was screaming into the camera how TN would win the next 10 NCAA titles, and go undefeated, and THIS is the greatest moment in Lady Vols BB history! She does her best to keep UCONN fans off THE SUMMITT!
She is a SICK human being!

 

[meyers7]

R
Maria M. Cornelius ‏@mmcornelius Oct 9
Love watching @IndianaFever, but the opponent is repulsive to me.

Repulsive. A team with Maya, Whalen, Siemone, Brunson, etc. is repulsive. #WatchMe #Don'tReadHer

Maria seems like one of the most unpleasant human beings on the planet.

She's a pretty F#$@ed up individual from what I've seen. But just my opinion. I suppose her mother loves her.

 

[UConnCat]

Richard Deitsch's interview is focused on UConn and will be out in a couple of weeks. The timing of the interview allowed him to get Geno's thoughts on the WNBA finals. Deitsch said he had high praise for Maya (of course) and Cheryl Reeve.

 

[UConnCat]

Mechelle's story on Whalen and Augustus overcoming injuries:

http://espn.go.com/wnba/story/_/id/...lp-minnesota-lynx-win-third-wnba-championship

I honestly thought the Fever would win. Early on the Fever looked like the better team with a deeper roster and fresher legs and showed they could win deciding games away from home. Game 5 was not well-played, but the Lynx experience and Fowles were the difference.

Stephanie White is simply outstanding as a coach. She'll have a future with USA BB if she wants it. I hope she does.