This years WNBA Finals will consist of two teams that are very similar in the way they like to play basketball. Marynell Meadors who has been around the league since it’s conception, has her Atlanta Dream team back in the Finals for the second time in two years. It is not typical for any of the new franchises in the WNBA to make it to the playoffs much less make it to the finals for two straight seasons. Coach Meadors has learned the do’s and don’ts from her past experiences with the former Charlotte Sting and the Washington Mystics. From her experiences she has mastered what it takes to build and have a good team in the WNBA. Hopefully Coach Meadors will take what she learned from last year’s lost in the Finals and win her first WNBA title.
Cheryl Reeves has also been on a similar learning curve, started out in Charlotte and Cleveland and went on to learn under the infamous Bill Laimbeer with the former Shock. team. She knows what type of team is needed to make the playoffs and what you need to do do to win when you get there. Many players enjoyed playing for Bill Laimbeer saying he was a players coach. I think Coach Reeve may have picked up some cues from him. With her all-star studded team, a players coach is instrumental in keeping egos satisfied and the team together.
These coaches both implore a run and gun type of game style but will also slow it down and play a half-court game by pounding the ball inside. It is great to have two women coaches whom have worked their way up in the league in the WNBA Finals. To bad their can be only one winner.
These coaches must really be excited going into the Finals with two great players at the most important position on any team (pt guard position). In Minnesota their is Lindsay and in Atlanta their is Lindsey and although it sounds the same (Say or Sey) will be the X Factor in who’s team wins the trophy. Lindsay has gained more confidence in her shot. Long gone are the days of her not taking the wide open shot, she is now shooting the ball well and hitting game winners.
The other Lindsey has learned that it’s not all about scoring as she did in DC, but getting the players on her team the ball when they need it. I think Lindsey has improved on her decision making, like when to drive and when to set up the offense. It will be exciting seeing both of these guards getting in the paint and finishing their unorthodox lay-ups. They also both have great court vision and will find players cutting to the basket.
Okay okay I know everyone is saying what about Moore, McCoughtry, Agustus, Castro, Wiggins, Price and all these athletic guards in the WNBA finals. Well as a player I know these guards will cancel each other out. These guards are so athletic and talented they are going to do their things and it’s just going to be so exciting to watch.
Now for the ladies that I had to personally battle against McWilliams-Franklin, De Souza, Lyttle, Brunson. Well these ladies are going to go hard in the paint. They have great pt guards to find them in the right positions and they are going to be battling hard on the boards. Which duo wins the battle of the boards will give their teams the edge in the series.
So who will win the Finals this year. I like Atlanta and I like Minnesota and it really doesn’t matter to me who wins. With that being said, I still believe that the Veteran Taj McWilliams-Franklin will lead her team to a championship and win for the second time in her career.


