Lynx in front of pack in tough West

— -- The WNBA is at its best in the West again in 2014.

There can be little argument that the power in this league continues to lie in the Western Conference, but there might be some argument about which West team reigns supreme.

Minnesota -- its star-studded roster largely intact -- is coming off another impressive title run, a sweep in the WNBA Finals against Atlanta last fall that sets up the Lynx as the early favorites to repeat.

But Los Angeles seems poised again to turn the Western Conference into a competitive, compelling race. Candace Parker's hunger to win a title has to be reaching a peak after last year's first-round playoff exit and the franchise's near demise over the winter when ownership relinquished control before a new group, led by Magic Johnson, took over.

Here's a quick look at the West for 2014, with teams listed in their projected order of finish.