The Lynx are 2-0. So are the LA Sparks.

So their Thursday night game is a very, very early battle for first place in the Western Conference. The Lynx are nearly everybody's pick to repeat as WNBA champions, but LA is expected to be much improved.

Candace Parker, the Sparks' 6-2 forward, is healthy after missing about half of last season with a knee injury.

She had two big games against the Lynx last season. In the season opener in LA, Parker had 19 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks as the Sparks won 82-74. That extended LA's winning streak over the Lynx to eight games.

The Lynx won their next four meetings last season; Parker missed two of those games. But she was back for the fifth and had 18 points and eight rebounds. But the Lynx won 87-68 to clinch a spot in the playoffs.

Complementing Parker this season on the outside if guard Kristi Toliver, who is averaging 21.5 points in two wins over Seattle. She can pop the three-pointer.

The Sparks also traded for Alana Beard, a veteran guard who was injured at Washington last season. She is averaging 11 points in her comeback. LA also has a new coach, Carol Ross, an assistant with the Atlanta Dream the past three seasons.

Another new player who should give the Sparks depth, at least, is center Nicky Anosike, the former Lynx starter in the middle. She has not played yet.

SEIMONE SMOKING

Seimone Augustus is averaging 20.5 points for the Lynx and shooting 60 percent from the field (18 for 30). ... Maya Moore had a career-high seven assists in the Lynx win over New York on Tuesday. ... The Liberty had five as a team.

* LA leads the all-time series with the Lynx 34-13 and are 15-9 at Target Center.