Zahui has played for New York Liberty since 2016 and was convinced that she would return there this season as well.

Instead, it is now Los Angeles and Sparks that apply to the Swede.

- It seems that I will have a good role where I get to play, I have had great conversations with the coach about being a threat and really producing that way, Zahui told SVT Sport before the premiere.

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Zahui before the premiere: "The team is absolutely fantastic"

But when the season began against the Dallas Wings tonight, Zahui spent the entire game on the bench.

From there, she got to see how the guests drove over Sparks.

With just under eight and a half minutes left of the fourth period, Dallas led 70-64.

Then Nia Coffey got a great opportunity to put a three-pointer for Sparks - but missed.

Instead, Dallas put a third - it was the starting shot for the home team's fall.

Over the next five minutes, Dallas scored 13 points, while Sparks produced zero progress.

From being down by just six points, Sparks was suddenly down by a full 19.

Allisha Gray in Dallas was the best scorer with 23 points and the victory numbers were eventually written to 94-71.