The Minnesota Lynx made easy work of the Phoenix Mercury.

words // Brandon Richard

After a series-clinching win Tuesday night, the Atlanta Dream have advanced to their second-straight WNBA Finals, where they’ll take on the Minnesota Lynx.

The Lynx, who had never won a playoff series prior to this year, completed a dominant two-game sweep of the Phoenix Mercury this past Sunday. Proving why they were the team with the league’s best record during the regular season, Minnesota used their well-balanced attack of Seimone Augustus, Lindsay Whalen, Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Maya Moore and Rebekkah Brunson to win the series by a combined 45 points.

It wasn’t as easy for the Dream, who needed three games to dispose of WNBA MVP Tamika Catchings and the Indiana Fever. After the Fever stole Game 1 with the home crowd behind them, Catchings suffered a foot injury in Game 2 that left the door wide open for Atlanta. Atlanta cruised to even up the series at one game a piece behind a 30-point performance from Iziane Castro Marques. That set the table for Game 3, which was competitive despite Tamika’s inability to play at full strength while suffering from plantar fasciitis in her right foot. However, it was the Dream that pulled away late and claimed the eastern Conference for the second year in a row.

Before the WNBA Finals tip off this Sunday, take a look back at what basketball shoes were worn during the Conference Finals in today’s Sneaker Watch.

Diana Taurasi drives in a Player Exclusive colorways of the Nike Air Max LeBron 8 V.2.

Taj McWilliams-Franklin prepares for a rebound in Pro Model Zero adidas Basketball shoes.

Ketia Swanier fights for a loose ball in the adidas Crazy 8.

Maya Moore shoots in the Jordan Fly Wade.

Nakia Sanford rebounds in adiZero Infiltrate adidas Basketball shoes.

Tamika Catchings receives her WNBA MVP trophy prior to Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Catchings looks on in her PE Zoom Kobe III Nike basketball shoes.

Lindsey Harding finds an open teammate in the Nike Zoom Kobe VI.

Tangela Smith tries to pull down a rebound in the adidas adiZero Crazy Light.

Katie Douglas run the court in a PE colorway of the Nike Zoom Hyperfuse 2011.

Coach Marynell Meadors and the Atlanta Dream celebrate with the trophy.

images via ESPN