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MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota guard Lindsay Whalen seemed to have a shiner developing under her left eye after Sundays season-saving Game 4 victory in the WNBA Finals. She shrugged indifferently when asked about it.Part of the game, Whalen said with her trademark flat tone and blank expression. I think everybody on both sides of the floor probably has something. Thats two teams competing.Admittedly, this doesnt sound funny. Yet if you know Whalen, if youve watched her exhibit so much grittiness while maintaining that poker face, if youre lucky enough to have glimpsed the hilarious side of her that family, friends, teammates and coaches see, then you can chuckle at the visual.Its just a tiny slice of everything about her that is just so ... Lindsay Whalen. She couldnt be more Minnesota, which is why shes beloved in her home state. That the Lynx are going for their fourth championship in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals on Thursday (ESPN2, 8 p.m. ET) at Target Center is a big deal. But that home-state hero Whalen has been with the Lynx throughout their six-year run of success has made it even sweeter for fans.Whalen is about getting the job done, not talking about doing it. She might occasionally give an enthusiastic fist pump after a big basket, but for the most part shes just moving right on to the next play.She is never going to let her emotion became fuel for her opponent. Whether Whalen was holding a royal flush or a pair of twos, nobody but her is going to know. Yet when you ask who is the emotional leader of the Lynx, the answer is ... Lindsay Whalen.Her communication is really steady, Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said. Its thoughtful, firm when it needs to be. But then its also witty. I think thats what her teammates count on from her.And Lindsay is a point guard. When we dont have success, shes beating herself up -- that as the leader, she couldnt get things done. Shes such a thinker of the game. But shes going to focus on the next game or next possession. Shes going to break it down for her teammates. Shes one of the greatest all time.With three WNBA titles and two Olympic gold medals in hand, Whalen clearly has staked that claim. And what Whalen means to this state and the franchise, to her teammates, and also to Reeve -- who laughs and says, I think Im way more volatile emotionally than she is -- is profound.Whalen always seems to bring out the best in the people shes around and the situations shes in.When she is aggressive and leading our train, Lynx forward Maya Moore said, it gives all of us energy and life. Im so proud of her effort; she pours it all out for us every night, and its so inspiring.Or as forward Rebekkah Brunson said in the Lynx locker room Sunday, gesturing over to Whalen, Thats my favorite player right here. I love every part of being her teammate. I love the practice, the travel, the games; I enjoy every minute of it. I wouldnt want to have anyone else leading our team.Last postseason was difficult for Whalen, because by then she was worn down dealing with a lot of pain. She still played in all 10 playoff games in 2015, and had one of the biggest assists of the WNBA Finals against Indiana, getting the ball to Moore for a buzzer-beating 3-pointer that won Game 3.But Whalen didnt feel like her normal self, and had the lowest scoring average -- 6.5 points per game -- of her 11 career playoff appearances between Minnesota and Connecticut, where she was drafted and played her first six seasons.She knew she needed some recovery time, especially with 2016 being an Olympic year. So Whalen didnt play overseas last winter. It was a chance to recharge both physically and mentally.I feel great this year, Whalen said. It was obviously a smart decision. I listened to my body, my coaches, my family about taking a rest and getting fully healthy. It feels good to be able to move and play the way you want to play.It also helped that Minnesota brought in veteran guards Renee Montgomery during the 2015 season and Jia Perkins before this season, which has allowed Whalen to rest more without it hurting the Lynx.Whalen played the fewest minutes of her career this season, averaging 24.6. But she is fresher for the playoffs, rather than just trying to gut her way through them like last season.Her 9.8 PPG in the regular season has improved to 13.6 in the postseason, second to Moores 22.3. Whalen had 13 points, six rebounds and two assists in Minnesotas 85-79 win Sunday. That included baskets on consecutive possessions off Los Angeles turnovers in the crunch-time fourth quarter.She doesnt have to be scoring to help us, but when she does, it makes us that much harder to defend, Moore said. And when shes penetrating, she has such good body control and can get to the free throw line.Whalen always has been fearless going to the basket no matter how daunting the defense looks. It might have been one of those times when she got hit around the eye Sunday. She has taken her share of punishment, including last year when her string of 106 consecutive starts was broken and she had to miss the 2015 All-Star Game after she was poked in the right eye. But her pain tolerance is high, and the bumps and the bruises mean nothing to her.What matters is that the Lynx fended off potential elimination and now will be back home with an opportunity for another championship. Whalen turned 34 in May and knows that everything becomes a little more difficult as you age. But also a little more precious.Yeah, you just dont know how many chances you have left to be in this position, Whalen said. To even get to this point is very hard, because its a great league. So you have to cherish the moment. 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He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec.Sky Sports Guillem Balague picks his combined Man City and Real Madrid XI ahead of their Champions League semi-final. Man City v Real Madrid preview All you need to know ahead of Tuesday nights Champions League semi-final first leg at the Etihad... City marked their first appearance in the Champions League last eight with a 3-2 aggregate win over PSG earlier this month, while Real, winners in 2014, overcame Wolfsburg by the same aggregate scoreline after a sublime second-leg comeback.Although Real Madrid are 6/4 favourites with Sky Bet to win the competition for an 11th time, Spanish football expert Balague believes Zinedine Zidanes side are the weakest of the remaining four sides, and insists they showed how dangerous yet vulnerable they can be in their two-legged win against Wolfsburg. There is no place for world-record signing Gareth Bale, with Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero pipping him alongside Cristiano Ronaldo Five Manchester City players make it into his combined XI, while there is no place for world-record signing Gareth Bale, with Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero preferred alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.Combined XI - 4-3-3: Joe Hart; Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Vincent Kompany, Marcelo; Luka Modric, Fernando, Toni Kroos; Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero, Cristiano RonaldoBalague said: I think Real Madrid are the weakest of the four teams. As a team, they showed their weaknesses against Wolfsburg and they had an easy passage to the semis with Roma and Wolfsburg. Manuel Pellegrinis side have a fine chance of reaching the final, says Balague I think to lose 2-0 in Germany is a sign of what they can doo, but also to beat Wolfsburg 3-0 is a sign of what they can do in another sense.ddddddddddddRonaldo found form at the best time of the season with key goals against Roma, Barca and Wolfsburg.But as a team, Real Madrid defend badly and can be exposed. Certainly it is an opportunity for City to reach the final. De Bruyne celebrates scoring in the quarter-final win over PSG earlier this month In the other semi-final clash, 2014 finalists Atletico Madrid face 2013 winners Bayern Munich, who are preparing for Pep Guardiolas departure to Manchester City in the summer.And Atletico, who have forced their way back into the La Liga title reckoning in the last month, are favourites to win the competition for the first time, according to Balague. Atletico can win the champions League. For me, they are the favourites. Its a fascinating battle between two coaches who love more than most to influence their sides. The teams are a mirror of who [Diego] Simeone and Pep were as players and are as coaches. Atletico are favourites to win the Champions League, according to Balague I think Atletico Madrid are more comfortable, marginally, with what they do. Physically, they are strong, solid, with no injuries. Bayern need to find themselves a strong centre-back pairing because Joshua Kimmich and Javi Martinez will struggle.Atletico Madrid showed against Barca they can defend as a team, but also that they werent scared to find the victory in their own way, in both ways.They find themselves more sharp at this stage of the season than two years ago when they got to the final. For me, they are the favourites. Also See: Charlies European predictions Man City v Real Madrid preview Is Iheanacho the answer? Neymar needs summer rest ' ' '