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The Sparks have felt underestimated all year, and that might not change as we head into a new chapter of the WNBA postseason with two best-of-five semifinal series.The Minnesota-Phoenix matchup pits teams that have won six of the last nine WNBA titles. The other semifinal, Los Angeles versus Chicago, has a team that won its last of two titles 13 years ago and a team that has never won a championship -- and has felt underestimated since losing 2015 league MVP Elena Delle Donne to a thumb injury on Sept. 7.But one of the most intriguing things about the semifinals is how very little that went on in the regular season is actually an indicator of what were about to see.Phoenix had a losing record and was the last team to secure its playoff spot as the No. 8 seed. Yet the Mercury have ousted the Nos. 3 and 5 seeds in the single-elimination format and seem to be playing as we initially expected they would.Despite losing Delle Donne -- whose return doesnt seem likely -- the Sky still secured the No. 4 seed and then won their second-round playoff game 108-98 over No. 6 seed Atlanta.Los Angeles had one identity before the Olympic break, and a different one afterward. Now, with a week and a half away from competition to prepare for the semifinals, will the Sparks reboot and return to their more dominant selves of May-June-July?Then theres the team that wants the playoffs to go exactly as the regular season did: Minnesota, which finished a league-best (and franchise-best) 28-6. The defending champions wont beat themselves. If theyre to be defeated in a best-of-five series, it will take an extraordinary effort. Are any of the other three teams capable of that? Heres a look at both matchups.No. 1 Minnesota vs. No. 8 PhoenixBeing a No. 8 seed in the NCAA tournament is usually not much fun. It means you have a first-round game against a team thats almost indistinguishable from you. So you and your near-twin, the No. 9 seed, duke it out just to see who has to face the top seed. (Save for 1998, the one year in the womens tournament when a No. 16 beat a No. 1. We wont mention the details, Stanford fans.)However, this isnt the NCAA tournament, where the gap between a No. 8 and a No. 1 is typically quite vast. Going into this season, most people expected Minnesota and Phoenix would be the top two in the 12-team league.The change in the playoff format, which did away with the division between conferences, was supposed to help prevent a matchup such as the Lynx versus Mercury happening before the WNBA Finals. Theyve met in either the Western Conference semifinals or finals four of the past five years.But for a lot of this season, the Mercury were as up and down as a thermometer in the Midwest during September. In their two playoff wins, though, the Mercury have been more like a thermometer in Phoenix in July: up, up, up.One can imagine Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve saw this coming during the Olympics, if not earlier. As an assistant with the U.S. team, she witnessed Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner coming alive during the Rio de Janeiro Games. She knew how much potential Spains Marta Xargay had to impact the Mercury, which won WNBA championships in 2007, 09 and 14.Minnesota had a couple of hiccups during the season, but nothing more than that. The Lynx won all three regular-season games with the Mercury, although its been awhile: Their most recent meeting was June 7.The Lynx -- who won WNBA titles in 2011, 13 and 15 -- led the league in both offensive and defensive rating. They have kept their cohesion as a unit ever since their first championship, which is amazing.You can look at this series through the prism of the aforementioned star power, led by Minnesotas Maya Moore versus Phoenixs Taurasi, two do-everything legends. Or the Lynxs Sylvia Fowles versus the Mercurys Griner, two classic-style centers.But even those who are more role players in this series are also stars in their own right. Such as Minnesotas Seimone Augustus, Lindsay Whalen and Rebekkah Brunson, and Phoenixs DeWanna Bonner, Candice Dupree and Penny Taylor.Both teams are getting older -- Taylor will retire when the season ends -- and so its a good time to really appreciate what these two organizations have brought to the WNBA. Even if theyre not meeting in the seasons last series.No. 2 Los Angeles vs. No. 4 ChicagoIts probably helped the Sparks cohesion to have a no one picked us to win the 2016 title chip on their shoulder. That way, they can direct any irritability more outward than at each other.And its definitely helped them to have the change in format. In the old system, the Sparks would have been facing Seattle in a best-of-three series and then, if they won, either Minnesota or Phoenix in another best-of-three.That would have been daunting for a team that went 21-3 before the Olympic break and 5-5 afterward. Not to diminish the Sky, but in this set-up, they are now all that stands between Los Angeles and the Sparks first WNBA Finals appearance since 2003. (Chicagos lone WNBA Finals appearance was in 2014.)Much to their credit, the Sky have won four of their six games since Delle Done was hurt. And Chicago rested some of its starters in one of the two losses -- the regular-season finale against Seattle -- because there was nothing to gain from that game. So kudos to the Chicago players and coach Pokey Chatman for the mental toughness and pride it takes to compete this well without one of the biggest stars in the league.The Sky put in another inspiring performance in Wednesdays playoff victory against Atlanta. But the Dream were vulnerable in the post with Sancho Lyttle being hurt and Elizabeth Williams, although she was Most Improved Player this season, still being a young player in growth mode.In short, the Sky go from facing a team that had difficulty exploiting Chicagos potential weaknesses without Delle Donne to a team that should be able to expertly take advantage of her absence, both offensively and defensively.L.A.s Nneka Ogwumike is the favorite for MVP; Candace Parker also is a candidate for that award. And the Sparks bring Jantel Lavender off the bench. That is a fearsome post trio. As for the perimeter, Alana Beard is still one of the most potent one-on-one defenders, and fellow guard Kristi Toliver has improved her defense while still being a feared 3-point shooter. Veteran Essence Carson and youngster Chelsea Gray have been good pickups for the Sparks at guard, too.This wouldnt be a good matchup for Chicago even with Delle Donne in the lineup. Without her, the Sky really need some players to overachieve the entire series to get three victories.The Sky have a true, experienced point guard in Courtney Vandersloot, who is coming off her best overall performance in a playoff game. Cappie Pondexter, who won two WNBA titles with Phoenix in her career, is still very capable of being a big-time scorer. They have some youthful, athletic posts to go along with veterans Jessica Breland and Erica de Souza. And guard Tamera Young has been with the Sky longer than anyone; this is her eighth season in Chicago.But the numbers dont add up very optimistically for the Sky. The Sparks were second in the league in defensive rating, third in offensive rating. The Sky were second on the offensive side -- but 11th defensively.Los Angeles won the three regular-season meetings -- one in May, one in June, one in July -- by double digits. But that was before the switch flipped during the Olympic break.Los Angeles lost 2-1 to Detroit in the 2003 WNBA Finals. Despite having franchise icon Lisa Leslie until 2009, and having her career overlap two seasons with that of Parker, and then adding in another No. 1 draft pick with Ogwumike in 2012, the Sparks have not been in that final showcase series for 13 years.This is their chance, if they can play up to their abilities, to end that drought. Don Luce Jersey . -- Whether Jeremy Hill deserves a prominent role in LSUs offence this early in the season is a matter for debate. Cheap Sabres Jerseys . -- Hunter Smith scored the winner with just 12 seconds remaining in the third period as the Oshawa Generals edged the host Sarnia Sting 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. https://www.cheapsabres.com/243v-rick-martin-jersey-sabres.html . Peter Holland and Brad Staubitz were sent to Toronto on Saturday as the Maple Leafs traded defenceman Jesse Blacker and draft picks to the Anaheim Ducks. Bob Sauve Jersey . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Pat LaFontaine Jersey . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. Need to catch up with whats happening in the world of sports and pop culture? Dont worry, I got you.1. So much Olympic greatness to discuss, but only 20 questions. Where do I begin?2. Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian ever, seems like a good place to start. After his final event, he announced his retirement. Are you buying that he wont return in 2020?3. Speaking of 2020, theres no doubt Katie Ledecky will compete again in four years -- she returned home this year with five medals (four gold and one silver). Does the 19-year-old have a chance to threaten Phelps Olympic medal count?(28), or is his legacy untouchable? As great as Phelps is, Ive never seen anyone dominate the pool like Ledecky. Shes her only competition!4. Nothing could overshadow Phelps Rio run, but how awesome is swimmer Joseph Schoolings story?5.?The moment that brought me the most joy was when Simone Manuel won gold in the 100-meter freestyle. With her historic victory, she became?the first African-American woman swimmer to win an individual gold medal at the Olympics. But do you know how profoundly significant Manuels win is for American history, too??6. I love everything the Final Five represent. Before they arrived in Rio, they were dubbed?the greatest gymnastics team of all time?and finished the team competition with a nearly 10-point margin. Safe to say experts were correct in their assertion? I think so.7. And wow, Simone Biles. Three golds down, two more to go. Any doubt shell win the beam and floor? Nah.8. Call me old-fashioned, but I miss the Perfect 10 scoring in gymnastics. Dont you agree that 15.839 just doesnt have the same cool factor? Bring back the Perfect 10!9.?Usain Bolts Jamaican roots dont stop the world from rooting for him like hes our own, and can you blame us? When you become the only person?to win a third consecutive Olympic gold medal in the 100-meter, I think youve earned the right to become a citizen of the world.10.?If Ledecky owns the water, and Bolt owns land, do you know who owns the sand? Kerri Walsh-Jennings. The 38-year-old beach volleyball player is 26-0 at the Olympic Games and two wins awaay from her fourth Olympic gold.dddddddddddd #Legend11.?Is anyone more infallible on hardwood than Team USAs womens basketball? Answer: absolutely no one.12.?But what is happening with Team USA mens basketball? Theyve had some nail-biters recently, and theyre not looking so unbeatable. Its clear the world has closed the gap, but Team USA is still the runaway favorite. Hopefully they dont succumb to an upset.13.?Speaking of upsets, days later Im still trying to reconcile the U.S. womens soccer teams loss to Sweden. Have you come to grips with this stunning loss, yet?14.?And my goodness, Hope Solo. What were you thinking? Not cool.15.?But you know what I still cant get over? What South Africas Wayde van Niekerk accomplished yesterday, breaking Michael Johnsons 17-year-old record for the 400-meter. It was mind blowing, but I was more impressed by how it all happened. A Lane 8 runner breezed past the rest of the field in unprecedented fashion. Unbelievable.16.?Did you hear about the Olympian who left Rio with silver and a diamond? Its a pretty sweet love story.17.?Can I please ask: what satisfaction is gained by criticizing Gabby Douglas? I truly dont understand the incessant bullying at her expense. We should be lifting her up, not tearing her down.18.?In non-Olympic news, Alex Rodriguezs days in pinstripes are over. Its safe to say he didnt have the most graceful exit from the game. But is he to blame for how the Yankees treated him?19.?Which 2016 retiree had the best all-around career: Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Peyton Manning, Michael Phelps or Alex Rodriquez? Thats a debate for the ages.20. After re-signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James is now the highest-paid player in the NBA. In a world in which talent and compensation are supposed to be directly linked, what in the heck took so long?Shana Renee is the founder and editor-in-chief of?All Sports Everything?and a passionate New York Jets, Knicks and Yankees fan. Follow her sports talk on Twitter at?@ItsShanaRenee. ' ' '