In mid-May, the WNBA kicks off and for Amanda Zahui, it will premiere in the new club LA Sparks.
The Swedish center has signed a two-year contract with the club and is happy in his new hometown.
- I love LA and thrive very well.
The coaches are fantastic and so are the players.
Even though the majority is not here yet, I have contact with them.
After six years in the US, you know each other, says Amanda Zahui to SVT Sport.
Expects playoffs
Zahui is one of only two players in the squad that is in place in LA because the others play with their European club teams.
At the beginning of the year, the Swedish star chose to break the contract with Russian Dynamo Kursk and instead rehabilitate his injured foot and hamstrings.
The goal is to be injury-free by the start of the WNBA season.
Zahui herself says that she is expected to play an important role in Sparks.
- The starting point is between me and Chiney Ogwumike.
Our coach Derek Fischer has said that it depends on the match up on the day we play.
In any case, I know that I will have a big role, maybe not one of the leaders, but one of the top six in any case.
Zahui and her LA expect to reach the playoffs.
- We have to get to the playoffs, that's how we talk.
Then we get to see how good we are, it is difficult to know when the team has not been gathered.
Do as the NBA
Last year, the WNBA was played in a bubble due to the pandemic - but that will not be the case this year.
Instead, you do like the NBA and go away for a week and play against several teams in the same region.
- I look forward to it.
I told our rookies last season that it's not normal to play in a bubble.
Because it will be a completely different atmosphere and energy when you go to an away match or play at home.
- Then there are some cities that will have audiences and some will not.
It will depend on which city and state you play in.