Finally, after a month-long training camp, and a week after the rest of the league started playing games, the Minnesota Lynx will play in a game that matters.

"I think we're ready," coach Cheryl Reeve said, standing at midcourt at Target Center about an hour before tonight's season-opening game. "I think they're ready."

Ready, willing, able. But, Reeve hopes, not too over-eager. Her players have been pining for a game for a few days now, so she hopes the players don't start the game over-amped. "I think we learned a lot from our preseason games and our scrimmage with the guys (which was Wednesday),'' Reeve said. "We know how we want to play, especially when it comes to starting the game. I just hope there is execution there to match the energy."

No surprises as far as starters. The Lynx will go with Lindsay Whalen, Seimone Augustus, Maya Moore, Rebekkah Brunson and Janel McCarville.

Reeve said McCarville is on about a 20-minute time limit as she continues to work herself into shape. And, Reeve said, much of that will come late in the game.

Reeve's biggest concern entering the game are rotations. She said she expects a nip and tuck game, and wants to make sure not mistakes are made in personnel groupings. "We don't want to do anything where, say, we're up two and we have a bad combination and all of a sudden we're down six," Reeve said. "We want to make sure we're sharp with that, and play calls."

It is an interesting scenario. The Sun has played twice, which would appear to give them an edge. But they're playing on the back end of consecutive nights after losing in Chicago Friday.

Some other notes:

--Sun coach Anne Donovan said her team's top backup guard – former Lynx player Renee Montgomery – is not playing tonight. She sprained her ankle in the fourth quarter in Chicago, is having further tests and is currently on crutches.

--The Lynx will unveil its 2012 Western Conference championship banner before the game.

--This will be McCarville's first WNBA game after sitting out the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

--The Lynx is 8-6 all-time in season openers.