Alexander Shun

Web Editorial Associate | Twitter

Indiana Fever (0-1) vs. Minnesota Lynx (1-0) | 6:00pm

Where to Watch: FS1, FS North

Where to Listen: BOB 106.1 FM

The Minnesota Lynx opened their season last night against the Tulsa Shock and came away with a win, beating the Shock 83-75 behind a scoring duo of guard Lindsay Whalen (26 points) and forward Maya Moore (23 points).

The veteran-laden Lynx squad overcame a 16-point deficit to get the victory, and such wins are going to be necessary for the Lynx to make another deep playoff run.

The Indiana Fever were in Chicago last night taking on the Sky and they struggled mightily, getting blown out 95-72. Fever forward Marissa Coleman led the team scoring 18 points.

The Lynx face a tough test in the Fever, despite the Fever’s lopsided loss. The Lynx will look to improve their play after an up-and-down game last night, winning the game, but committing 17 turnovers.

Meanwhile the Fever are geared up for another deep playoff run.

The Fever have made it to four consecutive Eastern Conference Finals and have made the playoffs for 10 straight years now. To make them an even tougher matchup, the Fever are returning 10 of the 12 players from their Eastern Conference Finals squad from last season.

Led by nine-time All Star Tamika Catchings, the Fever will be without a key player though. Guard Shavonte Zellous, the second-leading scorer for the Fever last season (11 points per game), will miss the game because she is still playing for the Croatian national team.

With such absences, the Fever will turn to newly-acquired guard Shenise Johnson who came over from San Antonio in exchange for the Fever’s first and third round picks in this year’s draft. Johnson averaged just six points and three rebounds last season, but showed flashes of extreme potential. In last night’s game against the Stars, Johnson started and scored nine points to go with her three rebounds, one assist and one steal.

Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson was downright dominant in last night’s game against the Shock scoring 14 points and grabbing 18 rebounds. Brunson will face an up-and-coming star in center Natalie Achonwa. Achonwa, the ninth overall selection in last year’s draft, didn’t play at all last season due to injury, but played last night against the Stars, scoring 10 points and grabbing six rebounds in just 15 minutes of playing time.

LAST MEETING

The last time the Lynx and Fever met, it was quite a game. They met on August 5, 2014 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis and the Lynx came away with the victory, winning 66-64 at the buzzer.

After a missed jumper by Fever guard Briann January, the Lynx took a timeout with just 13 seconds left in the game. With the clock about to expire, Whalen fired up a jumper but the shot rimmed out, luckily right into the arms of Lynx guard Seimone Augustus who tipped the ball in just as the buzzer sounded, giving the Lynx the 66-64 win.

The fourth quarter was all about defense as the Lynx outscored the Fever 10-8.

Augustus led all scorers with 18 points to go with her five rebounds, and Moore added 15 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Guard Karima Christmas led the Fever, scoring 15 points, and forward Erlana Larkins pitched in 13 points and 11 rebounds in the loss.

KEY MATCHUP: LINDSAY WHALEN VS. TAMIKA CATCHINGS

This is easily the best matchup of the game and explaining why will be quite easy.

Whalen: Five-time WNBA All-Star, three-time First Team All-WNBA, three-time WNBA Peak Performer (Assists) and two-time WNBA champion.

Tamika Catchings: WNBA MVP in 2011, nine-time WNBA All-Star, five-time Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year in 2002, WNBA champion, WNBA Finals MVP and a member of the All-Decade Team.

Enough said. Their long lists of accomplishments only highlight how talented these two veteran players are, and watching them compete on Saturday night is going to be entertaining and exciting for all. Whalen and Catchings are going to play major roles in deciding which team wins this game.

PROJECTED STARTERS

Lynx: PG – Whalen, SG – Augustus, SF – Moore, PF – Brunson, C – Dantas

Fever: PG – January, SG – Pohlen, SF – Johnson, PF – Coleman, C – Howard