The defending champion Minnesota Lynx will face the Phoenix Mercury in a rematch of last years Western Conference finals on Wednesday in the opener of a best-of-five semifinal series at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.Minnesota and Phoenix are meeting with a trip to the WNBA Finals on the line for the fourth year in a row and the fifth time in six years. The Lynx swept the Mercury last season under the old playoff format and went on to defeat the Indiana Fever in five games to win their third WNBA championship in five years.Minnesota went 28-6 during the regular season to win the Western Conference with the best record in the WNBA. Under the leagues new playoff format, the Lynx secured the No. 1 seed and received a double-bye to the semifinals. They won seven of their last eight games but have not played since defeating the Atlanta Dream 95-87 in the regular season finale on Sept. 17.Phoenix went 16-18 during the regular season to claim the WNBAs eighth and final playoff berth. The Mercury went 10-14 before the month-long Olympic break, but won eight of their next 12.Phoenix has won four in a row and five of its last six, including road victories over fifth-seeded Indiana and the third-seeded New York Liberty in the first two rounds of the playoffs.Diana Taurasi scored 20 points and DeWanna Bonner had 18 in an 89-78 victory over the Fever. Taurasi scored 30 points in a 101-94 victory over New York.The Lynx swept the three-game season series against the Mercury, winning 95-76, 85-78 and 89-81. All three contests were played in the first month of the season.Minnesota and Phoenix have been two of the most successful franchises in the history of the WNBA. Both have won three league championships and can join the now-defunct Houston Comets as the only teams with four titles.Minnesota is trying to become the first team to win back-to-back WNBA championships since the Los Angeles Sparks accomplished the feat in 2001 and 2002.Steph Curry Shoes Deals . In what the team had called a retirement, Ryan said Thursday that he is resigning as chief executive of the Rangers in a move effective at the end of this month. Steph Curry Shoes Deals . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay. https://www.stephencurryshoescheap.com/ . The native of Mont-Tremblant, Que., captured a World Cup downhill event Saturday, his second this year and fifth career victory on the circuit. Steph Curry Shoes Free Shipping . PAUL, Minn. Clearance Steph Curry Shoes . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday.NEW YORK -- Mariano Rivera walked to the podium near home plate at Yankee Stadium to speak about his newly dedicated plaque, which will be placed in Monument Park behind center field. He spoke in the 95-degree heat for just 3 minutes, as brief as many of his efficient relief appearances.I always will thank the good Lord to make me a Yankee, he said, referencing Joe DiMaggios memorable phrase.And then he turned and pointed to his former teammates and managers, seated on folding chairs in the infield.Hey, guys, I said 5 minutes -- all right! he said, pausing for a big smile before shifting his focus back to the fans. Thank you guys. I love you guys.Controlling owner Hal Steinbrenner presented Rivera with a replica of the plaque during a 25-minute ceremony before Sundays 12-3 loss to Tampa Bay. Co-owner Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal gave the retired reliever a ring in 14-carat white gold with 42 -- his retired uniform number -- formed by diamonds.Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada and Bernie Williams were among the former teammates on the field for the tribute along with current manager Joe Girardi and former manager Joe Torre.It wasnt about me. It was those guys there, Rivera said, pointing to the group. Without them, I couldnt do it.Rivera, whose number was retired by the Yankees in 2013 during his final weeks as aa player, exited to Metallicas Enter Sandman, the music played when he entered games.dddddddddddd. He returned for the ceremonial first pitch, a strike from the pitching rubber to rookie catcher Gary Sanchez.Rivera set records with 652 regular season saves and 42 more in the postseason, spending his entire big league career from 1995-2013 with the Yankees and winning five World Series titles. He is eligible for Hall of Fame induction in 2019.His plaque will be the 36th in Monument Park to go along with seven monuments. He talked at a post-ceremony news conference about being honored in the same place as Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, DiMaggio and Yogi Berra.And then me, a humble guy from Puerto Caimito, Panama, and being in that group of men means a lot, he said.Rivera also was at Yankee Stadium on Friday to participate in a ceremony marking Alex Rodriguezs final game with the Yankees, then returned Saturday for a celebration of New Yorks 1996 World Series title.Only Alex and the New York Yankees know what happened, he said. One thing that I can tell you is that I was proud of him because through tough times, through good times, adversity, he was there, he never hid and thats the beauty about him. ' ' '