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PHOENIX -- Think about all the damage that the Minnesota Lynx can do with their big names. It almost seems like overkill, then, that one of their most productive players in Sundays 82-67 WNBA semifinal series-clinching victory over Phoenix is someone they picked up in a trade in February without expecting shed make this big an impact.Sometimes getting lucky is good, Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said. We didnt necessarily know what we were getting in Natasha Howard.But theres that saying that the harder you work, the luckier you get. The Lynx as an organization have worked very hard to build what has now stretched into six seasons of excellence, and theyll be going for their fourth WNBA title in that stretch.The play of Howard -- who had 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting and eight rebounds Sunday -- is just one example of the culture the Lynx have built. Their incredibly strong core of key players -- Maya Moore, Lindsay Whalen, Seimone Augustus and Rebekkah Brunson -- have been together since the franchises first championship in 2011.The personnel moves the Lynx have made since then all have been with the goal of making an already great team even a little harder to beat. Look at the players added to the Lynx this year and last year, which include the likes of Sylvia Fowles, Renee Montgomery, Anna Cruz, Jia Perkins and Howard. Theyve all contributed specific things to the Lynx without taking anything away.UConn and USA Basketball coach Geno Auriemma always says that teams either get better or they get worse, but they dont just stay the same. The Lynx, who have become the WNBAs version of UConn in terms of sustained success, are an example of what hes talking about. Theyve continued to get better.Its all about being selfless, and thats the culture of our team, Reeve said. And we want to make sure we add those pieces that subscribe to that mentality. All the credit should go to the core players that we have, because other players want to play with them. Theyre tremendous superstars, yet theyre so humble and supportive.You watch them on the bench when theyre not in the game, and they have a lot of fun over there rooting for other players. Its genuine, and thats how they are all the time.The Lynx might be having a blast, but their opponents arent. Minnesota had the best regular-season record in franchise history (28-6) this year. The Lynx won all three of the semifinal games against Phoenix by double digits. Minnesota was the No. 1 seed and Phoenix No. 8, so the Lynx obviously were a big favorite. But remember, a few months ago, a lot of people predicted Phoenix would be the top contender for the title this year.Reeve complimented the Mercury on how much effort they put into these playoff games, but she also felt that the Lynx had enough high-quality depth that they could wear out Phoenix. And that happened. Led by Howard, the Lynx bench got 29 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.Indiana took Howard, out of Florida State, with the No. 5 pick in the 2014 draft. She had a solid rookie season for the Fever, averaging 7.0 points and 3.1 rebounds. Her numbers dropped off a little last season, but the potential was still there.The Lynx were expecting to bring back post player Devereaux Peters, who was their third pick in the 2012 draft, this season. She had been a Minnesota reserve for four seasons. But Reeve said Peters wanted to play elsewhere. Hence, a deal with Indiana for Howard earlier this year.Howard has worked out well for Minnesota, as have the others, such as Fowles, who sat out until late July 2015 to force a trade to the Lynx from Chicago. She was the WNBA Finals MVP last year and recently was named the 2016 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.And guards such as Perkins and Montgomery are veterans who provide a different look, especially on defense, to help spell Augustus and Whalen.Im excited, happy and thankful that weve created an environment here that people want to be a part of, said Augustus, the longest-tenured Lynx player going back to being chosen No. 1 in the 2006 WNBA draft. Jia or Renee could have gone somewhere else and probably started. Thats what we pride ourselves on: We have a great team of athletes, but also a great team of people.For Moore, who has had another MVP-caliber season, the long-term chemistry the Lynx possess is a thing of wonderment.Its like being in unchartered waters, said Moore, who had 20 points and six rebounds Sunday. If you have that kind of feeling in high school or college, those are four years. With the pros ... maybe two or three years would be good. But this is year six for us. Its like, Wow. And theres no question that its people from the top down, starting with our owner, that make that happen.At different times on this team, people might have a tired day, and someones always there to pick them up. Were constantly looking out for each other.Before the Olympic break this season, the Lynx and the Los Angeles Sparks were neck-and-neck as the top teams in the WNBA. Since the break, Minnesota clearly has been the best.The Sparks, who beat the Lynx at Minnesota in late June but lost two other times to them, still seem to have the best chance to derail the defending champions. But Los Angeles will have to get into the WNBA Finals first; they lost 70-66 in their Game 3 at Chicago on Sunday. The Sparks will try again to close out the series with the Sky on Tuesday (ESPN2, 8 p.m. ET).Meanwhile the Lynx will take the opportunity to get some rest as they wait to see whom they will face in their fifth trip to the WNBA Finals in the past six years.This group has been a very special group. And the vibe ... I think its because they all have a piece in this, Reeve said. Its been very, very rewarding for me, watching them throughout the season.Taylor Rapp Rams Jersey . -- James Young couldnt wait to apply those tweaks to his jump shot, and the first one he made against UT Arlington told him it could be a good night. Jared Goff Rams Jersey . But the quarterback hopes to stay involved in football after officially calling it quits Tuesday. "Id love to look at those opportunities as they arise," Pierce said in an interview from his Winnipeg eatery. http://www.ramsrookiestore.com/Rams-Andrew-Whitworth-Jersey/ . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. Deacon Jones Youth Jersey . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference. Los Angeles Rams Jerseys .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at Boston Strong - a citys recovery from tragedy. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Columbus Blue Jackets have traded the rights to defenceman Drew Olson to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for future considerations, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said Tuesday. The 23-year-old Olson was Columbus fourth pick, 118th overall, in the 2008 NHL draft.dddddddddddd The Brainerd, Minn., native played four seasons at the University of Minnesota-Duluth from 2009-13, registering three goals and 18 assists for 21 points and 109 penalty minutes in 147 career games. ' ' '