Uncasville, Conn. ? Using a casino for a homecourt, women’s professional basketball returned to Connecticut after a five-year absence Saturday. Unfortunately for the fans, the first opponent was defending champion Los Angeles.

Lisa Leslie dominated inside with 18 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks to lead the Sparks to an 82-73 win over the Connecticut Sun.

“The fans were really into it,” Leslie said. “They didn’t have any ill feelings against the visiting team, but that will come in time.”

The state lost its only women’s pro franchise when the American Basketball League folded in 1998, taking with it the New England Blizzard, which drew the highest attendance in the league.

The Connecticut team, formerly the Orlando Miracle, made its debut at the Mohegan Sun casino. The team was purchased and relocated by the Mohegan Indian tribe, becoming the first independent owner in the seven-year history of the league.

The resort is hoping to capitalize on the strong interest in women’s hoops in Connecticut. Geno Auriemma, coach of the four-time NCAA champion UConn Huskies, and WNBA commissioner Val Ackerman were among the sellout crowd of 9,341.

“We accept that there’s going to be scrutiny of this particular market, and we have high expectations,” Ackerman said. “Given what the state of the fan base is here to begin with, we feel like we’ve got a head start.”

The fans got a chance to see the overpowering post game of the Sparks, led by Leslie, who scored 10 of the team’s first 17 points and led a parade of Los Angeles players to the free-throw line in the first half.

The Sun, led by former UConn standout Nykesha Sales with 16 points and 10 rebounds, maintained their uptempo game and hit the boards harder to slow the Sparks. Los Angeles shot just 7-of-32 in the second half and was outscored 32-27.

“I thought it was a track meet. They ran with us,” Leslie said. “We allowed them to drive a little more than we would have liked.”

The Sun managed to hold Leslie to just two field goals in the period.

Los Angeles' Lisa Leslie, right, is fouled by Connecticut's Rebecca Lobo as Leslie takes a shot. The Sun lost their first-ever WNBA game, 82-73, Saturday in Uncasville, Conn.

Rebecca Lobo, another ex-UConn standout, started her first regular-season game in four years. She had three points, two rebounds and a block, and acknowledged having some opening-night jitters.

Tamecka Dixon helped the Sparks close it out in the final minutes, scoring seven of Los Angeles’ final 17 points.

Lynx 72, Monarchs 71

Minneapolis — Katie Smith made a free throw with 8.7 seconds left as Minnesota won its first game under coach Suzie McConnell Serio. Smith scored 13 of her 15 points in the second half. Svetlana Abrosimova led Minnesota with 23 points, but had only four in the second half. Tangela Smith led Sacramento (1-1) with 24 points.

Silver Stars 65,

Storm 56

San Antonio — San Antonio won its WNBA opener, beating Seattle behind Marie Ferdinand’s 20-point performance. The San Antonio franchise, formerly the Utah Starzz, relocated to San Antonio during the offseason because of lagging attendance in Salt Lake City.

Comets 69, Mercury 62

Phoenix — Sheryl Swoopes scored 14 of Houston’s last 22 points. Swoopes had 23 points and seven assists for the Comets, who won despite missing starters Tiffani Johnson and Tina Thompson. Mfon Udoka, starting for Thompson, scored 12 points. Anna DeForge had 12 points for the Mercury (0-2).