Sacramento at Los Angeles 10:30 pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Long one of the WNBA's best teams, the Los Angeles Sparks will open the playoffs Wednesday night against the Sacramento Monarchs as decided underdogs.

MORE ON THE SERIES
For more coverage of the Sacramento-Los Angeles series, check out the following links: • Teasley to come off bench • Pressure's on 'Mique, Leslie • Voepel: Talent-laden West • Playoff schedule • WNBA.com's playoffs coverage • Rosters: Teasley in; no Wauters

The top-seeded Monarchs won three of four games against the Sparks during the regular season, with two of the victories coming by 20 and 28 points.

Sacramento (25-9) won the Western Conference title. The Sparks (17-17) struggled after a late-season coaching change and injuries to starting forward Mwadi Mabika and point guard Nikki Teasley.

The first-round series is a repeat of last season's matchup, but things have changed. A year ago, the Monarchs were the No. 4 seed when they upset the Sparks, who had the league's best record.

"There are no sure things in the WNBA,'' Sacramento coach John Whisenant said. "It's been two straight years that we knocked off a higher seed in the playoffs, so we know how slippery that can be.''

The Sparks won five of their last seven games under Joe Bryant, who replaced first-year coach Henry Bibby earlier this month. But they needed a loss by Phoenix on Saturday to get into the playoffs.

"We're just happy to be in the playoffs,'' said Chamique Holdsclaw, who came to the Sparks from Washington this season in hopes of winning her first WNBA championship.

"It's a whole new season now. We've got to go out there and bring our best game from this point on. Sacramento is a good team, but they're a team that we know we can beat.''

Holdsclaw averaged 17.0 points and 6.8 rebounds in the regular season, and Lisa Leslie added 15.2 points and 7.3 rebounds.

Teasley will be available for the series that opens at Staples Center. She has missed 19 games because of injuries, including an inflammation of the arch in her right foot.

"I can do pretty much everything -- run, cut, move laterally -- but it's going to be painful the whole time,'' Teasley said. "But I think my overall experience of being in the playoffs will help me get through the tough times.''

The Monarchs won't have leading scorer DeMya Walker, who will miss the series because of a strained knee. Leading reserve Kara Lawson is day-to-day with a shoulder injury.

Yolanda Griffith averaged 13.8 points during the regular season, while Ticha Penicheiro averaged 4.4 assists.