Minnesota Lynx win yet another WNBA title; making 2015 their 3rd in 5 years

With another title to their loaded trophy case, the Minnesota Lynx have become the greatest WNBA team of this generation and now have hopes of challenging the greatest teams of All Time.

The Lynx picked up their third WNBA title in five years by defeating the Indiana Fever in Game 5 of the 2015 WNBA Finals on Wednesday, October 14. In the process, they became only the third team in the WNBA to win at least three championships. The Lynx victory game in a closely-fought Finals series over the last few weeks against the Indiana Fever, who last won a WNBA trophy in 2012.

It was a back and forth Finals series between two equally talented squads. Indiana stole Game 1 on Minnesota's floor with a 75-69 win, but Minnesota bounced back to win Games 2 and 3 home and away by a close margin each time. Facing elimination at home, Indiana won Game 4 by six to extend the series to a winners-take-all finale. Playing at home, Minnesota showed their class in Game 5, making it the most lopsided game of the series after halftime to win 69-52 and securing the 3-2 series victory.

Minnesota's 30-year-old Center Sylvia Fowles - who averaged 15.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game in the Finals - was named the Finals MVP in her very first season with the Lynx. Teammate Maya Moore led her team in scoring in the Finals (19 ppg) and captured her third championship, adding to her glittering legacy. Their efforts survived a strong challenge from Indiana's Tamika Catchings and Shenise Johnson all series.

The Lynx were zoned in for a special season all the way through. They finished first in the Western Conference and second in overall record (after the New York Liberty) by the time the regular season ended. In the playoffs, Minnesota defeated the Los Angeles Sparks 2-1 in the First Round and swept last year's champions Phoenix Mercury 2-0 in the Conference Finals. In the East, Indiana defeated Chicago Sky and 2015 season MVP Elena Delle Donne 2-1 in the First Round and upset the Liberty 2-1 in the Conference Finals to set up the engaging Finals clash against the Lynx.

WNBA star Tamika Catchings tips off Jr. NBA Championship in Mumbai

WNBA and Olympic basketball champion Tamika Catchings is in India this week, and she was present to tip off the Mumbai city championship of the Reliance Foundation Jr. NBA Programme at the Dominic Savio School in Andheri East on Wednesday, January 28th. The city championship marked the culmination of an eight-week program that took place in 185 schools across the city, including 100 MCGM schools.

More Than 940,000 youth from 1,000 schools have participated in the RF Jr. NBA programme since it was launched in 2013. NBA and Reliance Foundation have distributed 15,000 basketballs and 300 hoops to schools in India over the last few years.

“It is great to see such enthusiasm for basketball among Indian youth,” said Catchings at the city championship, “The joint effort between Reliance Foundation and the NBA has provided students the opportunity to learn the game and the important life lessons that come with it.”

Catchings (35) has enjoyed a highly successful basketball career. Drafted third by the Fever in 2001, the forward has spent her entire WNBA career with Indiana, leading the team to their first championship in 2012. Catchings is a five-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, nine-time All Star, the 2012 Finals MVP, and won Rookie of the Year in 2002. At the international stage, she has played an important role for USA, winning the women's basketball Olympics gold medal the last three times (2004, 2008, and 2012) and the women's world championship gold medal twice. Catchings has also played for clubs in Russia, Poland, and Turkey.

In the RF Jr. NBA programme, youth players across Mumbai have learned the game through in-school sessions, clinics, and competitions. The city championship included a 5x5 team competition featuring the top eight boys and girls teams from across the city; a 3x3 team competition featuring more than 450 teams; and the Finals of the Hot Shot individual shooting competition, which saw one boy and one girl crowned the best shooters in the city.

Catchings is now headed to Chennai to host the inauguration of the RF Jr. NBA Championship in that city.

WNBA and international superstar Tamika Catchings to visit India for Jr. NBA city championships

One of the most successful WNBA and international basketball players of the past decade, American Tamika Catchings of the Indiana Fever is set to visit India next week to host the inauguration of the Reliance Foundation Jr. NBA city championships in Chennai and Mumbai. Catchings will tip off Chennai's Jr. NBA Championship on February 1st at the Santhome School which will see youth from schools all across the city participate. She will also be at the Dominic Savio School in Andheri East in Mumbai on January 28th.

“It is an honor to travel to India on behalf of the Reliance Foundation and the NBA to help teach basketball to young boys and girls in India,” said Catchings. “It is exciting that the sport I love is taking off in India and I am looking forward to working with these kids.”

Catchings (35) has enjoyed a highly successful basketball career. Drafted third by the Fever in 2001, the forward has spent her entire WNBA career with Indiana, leading the team to their first championship in 2012. Catchings is a five-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, nine-time All Star, the 2012 Finals MVP, and won Rookie of the Year in 2002. At the international stage, she has played an important role for USA, winning the women's basketball Olympics gold medal the last three times (2004, 2008, and 2012) and the women's world championship gold medal twice. Catchings has also played for clubs in Russia, Poland, and Turkey.

Catchings will be the third big name WNBA player to visit India over the last four years, following 2x champion Katie Smith in 2011 and 3x champion Swin Cash in 2013.

The Reliance Foundation Jr. NBA city Championship marks the culmination of three competitions that have been taking place across the city. There will be a finals of the 5x5 team competition featuring the top eight boys and girls teams from across the city; a 3x3 team competition featuring over 150 teams; and the finals of the Hot Shot individual shooting competition, which will see one boy and girl crowned as the best shooters in the city.

Tamika Catchings leads Indiana Fever to 1st ever WNBA Championship

The 2012 WNBA Finals concluded with the Indiana Fever defeating the Minnesota Lynx 3-1 in the best-of-five series to win the WNBA title for the first time in franchise history. The Fever defeated the Lynx 87-78 in the clinching Game 4 to close out the series.

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Minnesota Lynx win the 2011 WNBA Championship

It was the perfect season for the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx, who started the year by getting the first pick in the WNBA draft, and ended it with a sweep of the Atlanta Dream to win their first ever WNBA Championship.

The Lynx sweeped the Dream 3-0 in the WNBA Finals - they celebrated the championship with a 73-67 Game 3 victory on Friday, October 7th. Finals MVP Seimone Augustus scored 16 points in the finale. The Lynx' first pick in the draft, Maya Moore, also contributed heavily to the championship. Moore was named the Rookie of the Year.

With Moore bolstering their lineup, The Lynx were the best team in the WNBA all season, ending the year with a league-best 27-7 record and finishing at the top of the Western Conference. Lynx went 7-1 in their three playoff series' to hoist the championship.


The 2011 WNBA season, the 15th season in league history, lasted four months, from June 3rd - October 7th. Tamika Catchings of the Indiana Fever won the league MVP award, but she couldn't get her team past the Atlanta Dream in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Lynx beat the Phoenix Mercury in the Western Conference Finals.