Brian Agler, who resigned as coach of the Los Angeles Sparks last month, got the challenge he coveted as the next coach of the Dallas Wings.
Los Angeles returned the core of last season's WNBA championship team, but for as much as the Sparks need to build on the success of 2016, they also knew they'd be starting from scratch as they focus on repeating.
Eight and a half months ago, Los Angeles and Minnesota met in the best WNBA Finals in league history. They remain the two best teams, and finally meet again Thursday (ESPN2, 8 p.m. ET).
Los Angeles finally returned to championship form last season. Nneka Ogwumike, Candace Parker and most of the key components return. Although the Sparks will miss Kristi Toliver, can they repeat?
All WNBA players competing now in Istanbul "are accounted for and safe," the league said following a deadly shooting in a nightclub in the city early Sunday morning.
Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike received 31 of 39 first-place votes for league MVP. New York's Tina Charles received the other eight first-place votes and finished second.
