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2017 WNBA Preview: Lynx, Sparks in top tier

By David Vertsberger

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 20: Rebekkah Brunson
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 20: Rebekkah Brunson /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 20: The Los Angeles Sparks and the Minnesota Lynx huddle up on the court during Game Five of the 2016 WNBA Finals on October 20, 2016 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 20: The Los Angeles Sparks and the Minnesota Lynx huddle up on the court during Game Five of the 2016 WNBA Finals on October 20, 2016 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Behemoths

Minnesota Lynx

Los Angeles Sparks

These two teams are simply a step up on any other potential contender. Last year they dominated the W right out of the gates, and a meeting in the Finals was basically inevitable. Expect the same this season. For the most part, their rosters haven’t gone under any drastic changes, and they have the culture and coaching to help new additions assimilate.

For the Lynx, the fearsome duo of Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles is back. Seimone Augustus and Lindsay Whalen bring championship experience and pesky two-way play. Jia Perkins and Renee Montgomery, both guards that would start on other teams, will continue to make opposing bench units weep. The only substantial change in what will be Minnesota’s go-to rotation is swapping backup forward Janel McCarville out for Plenette Pierson.

Expect another league-best defensive season and head coach Cheryl Reeve’s weak-side motion, spread offense. If you’re looking for a flaw, it could be age. Whalen is 35 years old and Augustus 33. Both took a step back defensively and played smaller offensive roles last season.

Moving to the Sparks, their core actually took an interesting turn this offseason. Kristi Toliver is now on the Mystics, with Odyssey Sims taking her guard spot. Toliver was huge for LA, constantly threatening defenses with her automatic three-point shooting and clutch bucket-getting. Sims can handle the ball more, and is in the 67th percentile in catch-and-shoot jumpers per Synergy Sports. She’ll likely push Alana Beard into more of an off-ball role and initiate the offense herself, though head coach Brian Agler’s system runs everything through his bigs. So long as Sims can hit the open three and defend twos decently, she should work for the Sparks.

Everything else is about the same. Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike will abuse opposing frontcourts, the Chelsea Gray comeback tour should continue being awesome, and Jantel Lavender won’t miss a mid-range jumper. Trying to find the edge between Minny and LA will once again be pretty impossible. Last year’s Finals went down to the final seconds of Game 5 for a reason.

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