What better way to start a season than with a potential Finals preview?

Saturday’s WNBA Tip-Off 2016 presented by Verizon is headlined by an ESPN (7:30 PM ET) showdown between the defending champion Minnesota Lynx and their powerhouse rivals, the Phoenix Mercury.

There’s no denying the history and rivalry between these two teams, as they have met in four of the last five Western Conference Finals, including the past three seasons, with the winner going on to capture a WNBA championship each time (Lynx in 2015, 2013, 2011 and Mercury in 2014). This trend could be bucked this year because of the new Playoff format in which the top eight teams make the Playoffs regardless of their Conference.

If the Lynx and Mercury are the top two seeds, then they will have a chance to continue their epic rivalry in the WNBA Finals this year.

Phoenix will get a huge boost with the return of 2009 MVP and seven-time All-Star Diana Taurasi, as well as three-time All-Star Penny Taylor, neither of whom played in the WNBA last season. Both players were integral parts of the Mercury’s three championship teams (2007, 2009, 2014). In the words of Taurasi at the team’s 2014 title celebration, “There’s a reason why every time we win a championship, Penny is driving the ship.”

Add these two players to an already loaded roster featuring All-WNBA First Teamer DeWanna Bonner and Defensive Player of the Year Brittney Griner and it becomes clear that the Mercury are coming to dethrone the Lynx.

Minnesota is looking to become the first WNBA team to repeat as champions since the L.A. Sparks back in 2002, a feat that has eluded the Lynx during their current run of three titles in five years. The Lynx will return with all the key pieces from their championship team, including 2015 Finals MVP and two-time Defensive Player of the Year Sylvia Fowles, who they acquired from Chicago last season.

While Minnesota-Phoenix is arguably the most compelling matchup, there are many other intriguing storylines on opening weekend, including:

Seattle Storm at Los Angeles Sparks (Sunday, 5 PM ET, WNBA LEAGUE PASS)
Stewart Debuts vs. Parker
No. 1 pick Breanna Stewart makes her highly anticipated debut along with last year’s No. 1 pick Jewell Loyd for the Storm against two-time WNBA MVP Candace Parker and a Los Angeles roster that features a total six of former All-Stars.

Dallas Wings at Indiana Fever (Saturday, 6 PM ET, ESPN 3)
Catchings’ Final Season Begins; Wings Play First-Ever Game
Two-time All-Star Skylar Diggins makes her return after missing all but nine games last season with a torn ACL to lead the new-look Dallas Wings in their first game as a franchise against the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Fever. Retiring WNBA legend Tamika Catchings embarks on her last season as a pro in search of a second title.

Connecticut Sun at Chicago Sky (Saturday, 8 PM ET, ESPN 3)
What Will Delle Donne Do for an Encore?
Reigning WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne will look to build on her MVP season against a young but talented Sun team. Look for former No. 1 Chiney Ogwumike, who missed all of last season after having microfracture knee surgery, to make her return. She’s joined by three touted rookies selected in the first round of April’s Draft (No. 3 Morgan Tuck, No. 4 Rachel Banham and No. 6 Jonquel Jones).

New York Liberty at Washington Mystics (May 14th, 7 PM ET, ESPN 3)
Rivalry Renewed in D.C.
2012 WNBA MVP Tina Charles and the Liberty will take on a Washington team that features the dynamic frontcourt of Stefanie Dolson and Emma Meesseman in a rematch of a first-round 2015 Playoff series.

Atlanta Dream at San Antonio Stars (May 14th, 8 PM ET, ESPN 3)
Rookie PG Jefferson’s First Test: Angel McCoughtry
Two-time scoring champion Angel McCoughtry and the Dream hope to rebound this season after missing the Playoffs for the first time since 2008 a year ago. They will take on San Antonio team that will rely on No. 2 overall pick Moriah Jefferson to start at point guard after All-Star Danielle Robinson underwent Achilles surgery.

Dallas Wings at New York Liberty (May 15th, 5 PM ET, WNBA LEAGUE PASS)
Diggins, Sims Go Head-to-Head With Stout Defense
Charles and the gritty Liberty will have their season opener at Madison Square Garden against the high-scoring backcourt of Diggins and Odyssey Sims.