LOS ANGELES — The Sparks are looking to turn the tide Wednesday as they host the Minnesota Lynx at Crypto.com Arena, the first of a three-game homestand that includes contests against the Dallas Wings (Friday) and the Las Vegas Aces (Sunday).
The Sparks (2-6) are coming off an 87-68 loss at Phoenix on Sunday for their fourth loss in five games.
Sparks forward Dearica Hamby has been the team’s leading scorer and rebounder in the first three weeks this season. The 10-year veteran and two-time All-Star, who is averaging 20.9 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists, had a team-high 23 points against Phoenix.
However, the Sparks backcourt did not have an answer for Diana Taurasi (31 points on 7 of 9 from 3-point range) and Natasha Cloud (21 points and 12 assists). The Mercury shot 48.3% (14 of 29) from beyond the arc.
The Lynx (6-2), led by two-time All-Star Napheesa Collier, went 4-0 against the Sparks last season. Collier, a 6-foot-1 forward, is averaging 21.4 points, 11.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.
The Lynx have found success early behind Collier’s six double-doubles. Three-time All-Star guard Kayla McBride is averaging 16 points and 3.9 assists. Lynx forward Alanna Smith (12.9 points) and guard Courtney Williams (11.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists) have been instant impact players in Minnesota’s first season under head coach Cheryl Reeve, a four-time WNBA champion and the head coach of the USA women’s basketball national team that will compete in the 2024 Olympics. Sparks head coach Curt Miller will serve as one of Reeve’s national team assistants.
The Sparks (2-6) are 10th in the WNBA standings – ahead of only Indiana (2-9) and Washington (0-8) – and 10th in scoring at 77.3 points.
Besides Hamby, veteran guard Kia Nurse (13 points per game) and rookie forward Rickea Jackson (10 points per game) are the only other Sparks averaging double figures in the scoring column.
Sparks rookie forward Cameron Brink is averaging 8.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.6 blocked shots per game. The 6-foot-4 former Stanford star has put the league on notice with her defensive prowess. She has recorded more than one blocked shot in seven of her first eight games, tying Utah’s Margo Dydek (1998), a 7-foot-2 center, for the most multi-block performances in WNBA history through eight career games.
However, in the Sparks’ second win of the season, an 88-82 victory over the Indiana Fever on May 28, four Sparks – Hamby, Nurse, Jackson and guard Aari McDonald – scored in double figures. McDonald provided 21 points (3 of 5 from 3-point range) and four assists off the bench. A balanced scoring load on a team with a mix of veterans and young players has proven to be a key to victory for the Sparks.
The Sparks went 1-2 during their road trip to Indiana, Chicago and Phoenix last week.
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Sparks veteran guard Layshia Clarendon (concussion protocol) traveled with the team but missed all three games. Veteran forward Azurá Stevens (left arm) also traveled but has not played this season.
Sparks starting guard Lexie Brown (8.5 points and 3.4 assists) did not finish Sunday’s game after suffering an ankle injury.
MINNESOTA (6-2) AT SPARKS (2-6)
When: 7 p.m. Sunday
Where: Crypto.com Arena
TV: Spectrum SportsNet
