What’s Trending in the #WNBAFinals: It All Comes Down to This


It all comes down to this.

More than four month after we tipped off the 2015 season, a champion will be determined in one last game on Wednesday night in Minneapolis.

In What’s Trending, WNBA.com has brought you what you need to know, see, listen to and/or watch each day.

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Here’s What’s Trending on Monday, October 12, with a winner-take-all Game 5 on tap:


#WNBAFinals: Game 5 Set for Wednesday, 8 PM ET on ESPN 2

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It’s only fitting that this instant classic WNBA Finals will come down to a decisive fifth game.

The Fever’s rousing Game 4 win on Sunday night evened the series at two games apiece and set the stage for Wednesday’s Game 5 — the third Game 5 since the league adopted a best-of-five Finals format in 2005.

Click here for more on Wednesday’s game


#WeAreFever: Indiana Wins Game 4, Improves to 5-0 in Elimination Games

The Fever have proven all season long that you can never count them out, and they did so one last time on Sunday night in Indianapolis. Indiana’s 75-69 Game 4 win was its fifth straight when facing elimination this postseason.

It’s been a different hero every night for the Fever, and this time guard Shenise Johnson led the way with a crucial 15-point effort.


#History: Catchings, Fever Set Postseason Records

The Fever are playing in their 11th straight postseason, a WNBA record. They won their 35th playoff game on Sunday, a WNBA record.

And Sunday’s game also marked Tamika Catchings’ 65th career playoff game, a WNBA record — breaking a tie with one-time Lynx forward Taj McWilliams-Franklin.

Take a look back through Catchings’ Finals experiences:


#RoarAsOne: Lynx Geared Up to Host Game 5

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The Lynx may have missed an opportunity to hoist the trophy in Indiana, but they are now faced with an even greater opportunity: winning on their home floor.

Minnesota has boasted the best home-court advantage in the WNBA over the past five years, winning 91 of 105 games at home during that span. While the bodes well for Wednesday’s grand finale, this fact doesn’t: the past two of those 14 losses came to the Fever in the WNBA Finals (last week’s Game 1 and Game 1 in 2012).


#ICYMI: Maya Moore Sinks Buzzer-Beater to Win Epic Game 3

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Before the Fever rallied back, many were calling Friday night’s Game 3 at the Fieldhouse the best WNBA Finals game ever played.

It became one of three ever to end with a buzzer-beater when Lynx superstar Maya Moore did what superstars do, nailing a three-pointer to lift Minnesota to an 80-77 victory.

Full Coverage: Recap | More on Maya | Perspectives on the Game-Winner | What They’re Saying


#WhatsTrending: Moore Shot Explodes on Social Media, CP3 Reenacts It

Not only did Maya Moore win a WNBA Finals game with 12 fourth-quarter points on Friday night; she became a trending topic nationwide.

It seemed like everyone in basketball was talking about Maya’s heroics, from Bill Simmons to Price (yes, Prince).

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All the way over in China, Chris Paul even reenacted the instantly iconic shot for his Clippers teammates during an NBA Global Games practice.

Click here for full social media reaction to the shot


#NBAFamily: Timberwolves Coach Sam Mitchell Purchases Game 5 Tickets

First it was Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine. Then Paul George, George Hill, C.J. Miles and Frank Vogel. And now Timberwolves head coach Sam Mitchell has become the latest NBA brother to step up in support during these Finals.

Mitchell provided 500 tickets to Wednesday’s Game 5 at the Target Center, which quickly sold out on Monday morning.


#WatchMe: Don’t Miss the Pregame Entrances in These Finals

Both teams in this series know how to announce their arrival…

Watch how the Fever and Lynx got pumped up for Sunday’s game, as they have done all series.

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More on the Pregame Ritual | Players Reveal Their Pregame Playlists


#AllAccess: Watch the Drama Unfold in the Game 4 Mini-Movie


#PhantomCam: Watch Highlights of the Weekend in Slow Motion

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