The defending champion Minnesota Lynx begin the season atop the preseason Associated Press WNBA poll — again.

The Lynx received nine first-place votes from the 14-person national media panel Thursday. It’s the second time in the three seasons that the AP has been doing the poll that the Lynx were the preseason No. 1.

Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve thanked the media for showing her team “that kind of respect.”

Los Angeles was second, garnering the other five first-place ballots. The Sparks and Lynx have faced off in the last two WNBA Finals and could easily meet for the title a third time this year. The Sparks were three points behind the Lynx in the preseason poll.

Minnesota is led by Maya Moore, who was the panel’s preseason player of the year selection for the second straight season.