Two Superstars Are Better Than One For The Sparks

If you follow the history of basketball a few things are perfectly clear. If your team expects to win a championship you need at least two superstars to complete the journey to the top.

The Lakers had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson and Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. The Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA have Nneka Ogwumike and Candace Parker.

Like any championship team every player on that roster plays an important role in that team's success. All 12 women on the Sparks roster are important. The other three starters, Alana Beard , Essence Carson and Kristi Toliver along with reserves Jantel Lavender, Chelsea Gray, Evgennila Belyakova, Jelena Dubljevic, Ana Dadovic, AnnWauters and Whitney Knight are a very important part of their success but when the lights come on its' Parker and Ogwumike that shine the brightest.

The Sparks continue their five-game road trip today (Friday) with a game against the Connecticut Sun. They play three more games Sunday, Tuesday and next Friday to complete their trip. They are currently 19-1 and if they win their game today against the Connecticut Sun they will tie the Houston Comets (1998) for the best start in WNBA history.

After this current road trip the team will take a month off because of the summer Olympics.

Last Wednesday the Sparks beat the Chicago Sky 77-67. Once again Ogumike was the leader of the pack. She scored 20 points, pulled down 11 rebounds along with three assists while connecting on 10 of 11 shots.

When it comes to being the team leader Ogmumike and Parker take turns most of the time but right now Ogmumike has the edge.

"I would have to say, yes, this is the best I have played in the WNBA," said Ogmumkie last Sunday after their win over Washington at Staples Center. "This is reminiscent of my senior year in college (Stanford)."

Ogmumike leads the WNBA in field goal percentage at 71.23 and is seventh in scoring with 19.1 points a game while Parker is ninth in scoring at 16.6 points per game.

"We are pretty good playing on the road (8-0)," said Ogmumike. "We need to get our rest and stay focused. We can't take any plays off and if we do that we will be fine."