WNBA set to begin after busy offseason

NEWYORK » It’s been a busy offseason in the WNBA since the Minnesota Lynx won the championship last year, beating Los Angeles in another thrilling final.

Las Vegas gained a team while New York changed arenas. Dallas saw the return of a huge inside presence with Australian Liz Cambage coming back to the WNBA after a hiatus. A third of the league changed coaches while another strong rookie crop led by A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Mitchell entered the league last month.

“There’s so much excitement for our 22nd season,” WNBA President Lisa Borders told the AP. “So many stories to tell and so many great players to watch.”

The league begins play Friday night when Dallas visits Phoenix. All 12 teams will be in action on Sunday with the marquee game that day a WNBA Finals rematch between Los Angeles and Minnesota. The two teams have developed quite the rivalry over the past two seasons, having played for the title the last two years.

“Every game that we play, it feels like a championship game,” Minnesota star Maya Moore said. “That’s when you know; when you play teams, and you have that kind of feeling. You sense, ‘ This is exactly what a rivalry feels like.”’

While the Lynx and Sparks are still the class of the league, earning the top two spots in the preseason AP WNBA power poll , there are many teams poised to knock them off.

“This summer is going to be intense, because the margin for error is so small,” Moore said. “It’s awesome. Don’t be fooled; it’s harder than it looks.”

Moore and Minnesota will try to end the league’s repeat drought and win a record fifth championship. No team has won consecutive titles in the WNBA since Los Angeles did it in 2001- 02. The Lynx have had three chances over the past few years, falling short in their repeat quest each time. With the stellar core of Moore, Lindsay Whalen, Seimone Augustus, reigning MVP Sylvia Fowles and Rebekkah Brunson all back — albeit a year older — the Lynx could end that streak.

Here are a few key story lines for the upcoming season:

VIVA LAS VEGAS: The San Antonio Stars relocated to Las Vegas in the winter, giving the Nevada city its second pro sports franchise. The team, which is owned by MGM Resorts, had the No. 1 draft pick and added Wilson giving them a solid young post player to compliment a strong guard group. New coach Bill Laimbeer hopes to build the franchise into a perennial contender.

COACHING CHANGES: Laimbeer isn’t the only new coach on the sidelines this season. His protege Katie Smith took over the New York Liberty, marking her first year as a head coach after being an assistant for the past few seasons in New York. Dan Hughes is back on the bench after taking a year off. He’s in Seattle now. Atlanta hired Nicki Collen as the new coach after she spent a few years as an assistant in Connecticut.

WELCOME BACK: Cambage was only 19 when the Tulsa Shock drafted her and she acknowledged that the Oklahoma city wasn’t the right fit.