LYNX AT A GLANCE

Playoff recap: The Lynx have been off since last Sunday after sweeping Los Angeles in the Western Conference finals. They beat the Sparks 80-79 in the clinching second game and in their first series edged Seattle 73-72 in the deciding third game. Both times the losing team had a chance to win at the buzzer but missed a baseline jumper.

Players to watch: The MVP of the playoffs so far has been F Rebekkah Brunson with her rebounding and defense. Maya Moore, the other forward, has been consistent, too, with three consecutive 20-point games. G Seimone Augustus is dangerous from the outside and on floaters near the basket. Point guard Lindsay Whalen was probably helped the most by the long layoff; her left wrist (bone bruise) had time to heal.

Did you know? The Lynx are 2-0 vs. Indiana this season, winning the first game on the road by two points on Whalen's last-second basket and the second at home when Moore made six three-pointers and had a career-high 29 points.

Coach: Cheryl Reeve was the league's coach of the year in 2011, when the team won 27 regular-season games and went 7-1 in the playoffs. This team also had 27 regular-season wins and is 4-1 in the postseason.

INDIANA AT A GLANCE

Playoff recap: Indiana has won four elimination games in the playoffs. The Fever beat both Atlanta and Connecticut 2-1 after losing the first game. Five Fever players scored in double figures Thursday. Reserve Jeanette Pohlen made all four three-pointers she took and had 14 points.

Players to watch: The Fever's strength is a pair of savvy 33-year-old veterans. One is Tamika Catchings, the league's defensive player of the year. She had 22 points and 13 rebounds on Thursday as Indiana beat Connecticut 87-71 on the road in the deciding game of the Eastern Conference finals. Guard Katie Douglas, the Fever's other scoring leader, sprained her left ankle Thursday and is day to day. She averaged 25.5 points in the first two games of that series.

Did you know? This is the Fever's second appearance in the WNBA Finals. Indiana lost to Phoenix in the 2009 championship series.

Coach: Lin Dunn is a folksy, old-school coach from Tennessee whose teams clamp down on defense. She has been coach of the Fever for four seasons. She also was highly successful as a college coach at Purdue from 1988 to '96, winning three Big Ten titles.

ROMAN AUGUSTOVIZ

ROMAN AUGUSTOVIZ'S PREDICTION

Indiana could make this a competitive series if Douglas recovers quickly from her ankle injury. She is one of the league's top three-point shooters. If she plays, the deeper Lynx win in four. If she doesn't, the Lynx sweep.

SCHEDULE

All games at 7 p.m. • *if necessary

Game 1TodayTarget CenterESPN2

Game 2WednesdayTarget CenterESPN

Game 3Fridayat IndianaESPN2

Game 4Next Sunday*at IndianaESPN2

Game 5Wednesday, Oct. 24*Target CenterESPN

LYNX IN 2012

Earned top seed in playoffs with 27-7 regular season. Are 4-1 in the playoffs.

INDIANA IN 2012

Earned No. 2 seed in the East with 22-12 regular season. Is 4-2 in the playoffs.