LA moves to top of AP WNBA power poll after win vs Lynx

NEW YORK (AP) — Los Angeles has jumped over Minnesota to the top spot in The Associated Press WNBA power poll following the Sparks’ season-opening victory over the Lynx.

The Sparks received all 14 first-place votes from the national media panel in the first regular-season poll Tuesday. Minnesota, which had been No. 1 in the preseason poll, fell one spot to second.

Los Angeles guard Chelsea Gray hit an off-balanced shot in the lane to give the Sparks a 77-76 win on Sunday at Minnesota.

“It’s early in the year,” Sparks coach Brian Agler told the AP. “We know we beat a good team, that’s pretty obvious. I think they’ll get their act together. We’ll get better as well. There are several teams that got better in the offseason.

“I don’t look at our league like a lot of people do as a one- or two-team race. I think there are several teams that could really get it going this year,” Agler added. “You got to catch some breaks, get a good schedule and stay healthy.”

The Sparks won without All-Star forward Candace Parker, who missed the game with a back injury.

“I don’t anticipate her being in (Indiana) for our next game,” Agler said. “She’s rehabbing.”

Los Angeles was also missing firstround draft pick Maria Vadeeva, who is in Russia still awaiting a visa, as well as 6-foot-4 Jantel Lavender, who was playing in the Turkish league playoffs.