DNS Podcast: A WNBA Finals preview with Mistie Bass & Jayne Appel-Marinelli

If you have been listening to our podcasts over the years, you know that the Roundtable discussions are some of our most enjoyable and most popular podcasts.

Today we bring you a roundtable featuring two of the most competitive players you will ever find, Jayne Appel-Marinelli, recently retired from the San Antonio Stars, and Mistie Bass, who just completed the season with the Phoenix Mercury.

These two played the WNBA finalist Minnesota Lynx and Los Angeles Sparks a combined total of 15 times during the 2016 WNBA season and playoffs, so they are well equipped to discuss the success and difficulties playing with and against the finalists.

Based on the finals, at least a portion of the new WNBA playoff format is a success. For perhaps the first time in WNBA history, the league has the two best teams meeting in the finals, which should make for some great basketball and a fun series to watch.

First place Minnesota comes in with a 28-6 record, featuring a Lynx quartet of United States Olympians in Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, Seimone Augustus and Lindsay Whalen. Rebekkah Brunson is an experienced veteran completing their starting lineup, and the bench is deep right to the end, with even more experience.

Los Angeles finished second in the regular season with a 26-8 record, and while they don't have a great deal of WNBA finals experience (Ann Wauters is the only Sparks player with finals experience), they are long and athletic, with talented scorers from inside and out, led by Most Valuable Player Nneka Ogwumike and former MVP Candace Parker.

Ogwumike and Parker combined to average 43 points and almost 19 rebounds per game in the semi-final series against Chicago, and are a difficult matchup. When they are on their game, it opens up the outside for Kristi Toliver, Alana Beard and Essence Carson for their shots. Jantel Lavender could be starting for most teams and is Sixth Player of the year in the league, and Chelsea Gray has be