Miami ? Mwadi Mabika scored 17 points, including the winning putback with 26.5 seconds left, to lead the Los Angeles Sparks to a 69-65 victory over the Miami Sol on Thursday night.

The Sol (0-2) had a chance to take the lead or force overtime in the final seconds, but Nikki Teasley stripped the ball from Sandy Brondello with 3.2 seconds left and made two free throws.

After falling behind 39-31 with 18:11 to play, Los Angeles used a 23-6 run capped by Tamecka Dixon’s jumper to take a 54-45 lead with 9:13 to go.

Brondello scored 10 of her 20 points in the final 6:59, including a pair of free throws with 1:15 left to give the Sol their last lead, 64-63.

Dixon added 13 points for Los Angeles (3-0).

Lisa Leslie, who scored 36 points in the Sparks’ first two games of the season, had eight points and fouled out with 1:32 remaining. Sheri Sam had 13 points and Kimbrough had 12 points and eight rebounds.

Miracle 80, Shock 66

Orlando, Fla. Shannon Johnson scored 17 of her 22 points in the opening 10 minutes and Orlando’s Dee Brown won his WNBA coaching debut. Nykesha Sales also had 22 points for the Miracle, who posted their first victory in four season-opening games.

Brown, a 12-year NBA veteran, replaced Carolyn Peck, who had a record of 44-52 in three seasons with Orlando before taking the coaching job at the University of Florida in April.

Rookie Swin Cash had 16 points to lead Detroit in its season-opener.

Starzz 69, Fire 64

Salt Lake City Adrienne Goodson and Marie Ferdinand each scored 19 points. Utah (2-0), playing its home opener, used a late 9-2 to take a 67-61 lead, then grabbed five offensive rebounds over the last 2:10 to hold off the Fire (0 2). Ferdinand, who was 9-for-9 at the free throw line, had four points over the final 1:15.

Liberty 78, Storm 61

Seattle Crystal Robinson scored 17 points as New York spoiled Sue Bird’s debut with Seattle. Bird, the top pick in the WNBA draft after leading Connecticut to the NCAA championship, scored 11 of her 18 points in the second half. She was 5-of-12 from the field. Tamika Whitmore had 14 points and Tari Phillips and Vickie Johnson each added 13 for the Liberty.