LA moves to top of AP WNBA power poll after win vs Lynx
NEW YORK — 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 first-round 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.
POWER POLL:. A look at this week’s WNBA poll:
1. Los Angeles (1-0): The Sparks continue a threegame road trip to open the season with stops in Indiana and Connecticut.
2. Minnesota (0-1): The Lynx didn’t shoot well and still only came one defensive stop away from keeping their top spot.
3. Phoenix (2-0): The Mercury have looked impressive in their two wins.