The Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA are winning games and seem to be having fun. After their 100- 77 victory over the New York Liberty at the Staples Center last Tuesday the Sparks look like a team on a mission.
This is a big turnaround from last season when players reported to the team late and injuries kept key players out of the lineup from the beginning of the season to the end. Winning will bring smiles but this team appears to really like each other.
“This is a great group of people,” said forward/center Jantel Lavender who came off the bench to score 22 points last Tuesday. “We are really sharing the ball. We are doing the little things right now that help us win games. We have so many weapons. I have been here for six years and this is one of the best teams I have played on. It’s awesome.”
The starters, Alana Beard, Essence Carson, Candace Parker, Nneka Ogwumike and Kristi Toliver are getting the job done but it’s the bench has changed the complexion of this team.
“We know what everyone is capable of,” said Ogwumike. “A lot of our second team players play important minutes. On any given night different players can step up. It’s great. We are really clicking right now. The chemistry is there but we still have more to give.”
The bench players are Evgenila Belyakova, Ana Dabovic, Jelena Dublievic, Chelsea Gray, Whitney Knight and Ann Wauters.
The 8-0 Sparks will travel to Dallas on Saturday and return home for a three-game home stand starting Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. against Chicago. On Friday June 17 they host a good Phoenix at 7:30 p.m. team and Tuesday, June 21 they battle a great Minnesota team at 12:30 p.m.
Sparks head coach Brian Agler wants his team to stay focused. “We have to keep playing at a high standard all of the time. It does not matter what the score is. It’s about how we play. Our focus is trying to get ready for the next game and getting ready for the playoffs.”
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