With Game 1 of the WNBA Finals just a few days away (Sunday, 3:30 PM ET on ABC), the excitement is building around the league and in the media. Here is what some of those covering the upcoming series are writing.

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“The 2017 WNBA Finals is almost certainly going to be one of the best series ever.” – Nina Mandell, USA Today

“The 2016 WNBA Finals capped off a spectacular year in dramatic sports finishes.  Los Angeles Sparks MVP Nneka Ogwumike hit a fadeaway shot at the buzzer to upset the defending champion Minnesota Lynx in a decisive Game 5 finish that should go down as one of the greatest finishes ever.  … Now the teams are set to rematch in the Finals yet again, in what should be an epic sequel.” – Matt Ellentuck, SB Nation

“The Lynx’s 3-point effectiveness will be one of the keys in the WNBA Finals, which open Sunday (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET) at Williams Arena when Minnesota hosts Los Angeles – the same Sparks who denied the Lynx back-to-back titles in a memorable five-game series last year.” – Pat Borzi, ESPN.com

“The Lynx are thrilled to be playing the Sparks.  Not for a revenge factor for last year’s Game 5 loss to the Sparks (they say).  But because these are the two best teams in the league … and that makes the competition that much better.” – Kent Youngblood, Minneapolis Star Tribune

“The WNBA Finals start on Sunday, Sept. 24 with the No. 1 Minnesota Lynx taking on the No. 2 Los Angeles Sparks, the defending champions, in a best-of-five series.  According to, well, almost anyone who knows anything about basketball, it has all the makings of an all-time classic.” – Lindsay Gibbs, DIME Magazine

“The Lynx and the Sparks have history and a budding rivalry.  They are, by far, their own greatest opponents.  … That’s exactly why we should be so excited for this series to start on Sunday.” – Tim Cato, SB Nation

“There are five WNBA MVP trophies between these teams.  For Los Angeles, Candace Parker has two (2008, 2013) and Nneka Ogwumike one (2016).  Minnesota’s Maya Moore won the honor in 2014, and teammate Sylvia Fowles won it this year.” – Mechelle Voepel, ESPN.com

“About to play in their sixth finals in seven seasons, the Lynx top the list when it comes to merchandise sales around the league.” – Kent Youngblood, Minneapolis Star Tribune