LOS ANGELES — The Sparks want nothing more than redemption against phenom Caitlin Clark and WNBA All-Stars Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston in Tuesday’s game at the Indiana Fever.
The Sparks vs. Fever contest will begin this week’s three-game road trip, including stops in Chicago (Thursday) and Phoenix (Sunday).
Tuesday’s game will be the second time the two teams have played in less than a week, creating another marquee matchup between the Clark (No. 1 pick) and Sparks rookies Cameron Brink (No. 2 pick) and Rickea Jackson (No. 4 pick).
The Sparks (1-4) are currently on a two-game losing streak at home via a 78-73 loss to the Fever on May 24 and an 84-83 against the Dallas Wings on May 26, the latter being a career game for Brink who finished with 21 points, three blocked shots and two rebounds.
Brink’s strong start, which included 12 points and two blocked shots in the first quarter, is a feat that has only ever been achieved by two-time MVP and back-to-back champion A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces.
The 6-foot-4 forward has a league-high 16 blocked shots this season, which tied her most all-time through five career games with Phoenix’s Brittney Griner in 2013 and Utah’s Elena Baranova in 1997.
Clark had her first double-double and nearly a triple-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists against the Sparks, including two late 3-pointers, after missing her first seven attempts beyond the arc. After beating the Sparks, the Fever suffered a 99-80 loss at the Las Vegas Aces on May 25.
Meanwhile, two-time All-Star forward Dearica Hamby has recorded three straight double-doubles for the Sparks. She is averaging 20.6 points and 13.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists on 54.2% shooting from the field in the first two weeks of the season.
Lexie Brown (12.2), Cameron Brink (10.8), Kia Nurse (10.6) are all averaging double figures in the scoring column. Rookie forward Rickea Jackson is averaging 9.8 points off the bench.
Sparks forward/center Azurá Stevens, who has not played this season, remains out for the foreseeable future with a left arm injury.
However, the Sparks will be down to 10 active players after starting point guard Layshia Clarendon suffered a concussion and has been ruled out ahead of Tuesday’s road game. Sparks reserve point guard Aari McDonald, who scored seven of her nine points during a fourth-quarter rally, could see more minutes with Clarendon sidelined.
“Coach Curt demands a lot out of his point guards,” McDonald said. “You are the key to the team. You’re the extension of him, so if something goes wrong it’s on you, but I’m up for the challenge. No pressure at all and like I said, I’m going to keep learning and keep asking questions, leaning on Lay and Lex and coach Curt, keep talking to him and keep picking his brain but I’ll be okay.”
Despite the loss, the Sparks bench (Li Yeuru, Aari McDonald, Zia Cook and Rickea Jackson) outscored the Wings by a 27-8 margin, a positive takeaway for Miller, who said he has several requirements for bench players.
“Energy, effort and growth within our schemes,” Miller said. “They’re wide-eyed, there’s so much thrown at them in a short training camp, just the growth the scheming on both sides of the ball and have less and less slippage.
“We’re not asking them to be perfect, but less and less slippage in terms of what game plans we’re trying to achieve. But ultimately, their energy and effort is what we’re looking for when they come in. Keep sparking us with the intangibles that way is really important and again. Aari can give us a ton of energy. Zia gave us a ton of defensive energy and down the line and Li Yueru was great (Sunday night). It’s what we envision that physicality, a low post presence, someone that can keep big teams of the glass. Li was big for us.”
SPARKS (1-4) AT INDIANA (1-6)
When: 4 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
TV: NBA TV
