Jantel Lavender
The final three games of the regular season for the Sparks include a Sunday date with the other power team in the WNBA, the Minnesota Lynx. The Lynx and the Sparks are the two best teams in the league so their game on Sunday; although it's still a regular season game has playoff implications. Tip off for the game is set for 4 p.m. at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.
The Sparks (22-8) still have an outside chance of overtaking the 23-6 Lynx with three games remaining in the regular season. The Sparks are 13-1 at home and 9-7 on the road. The Lynx are 13-2 at home and 10-4 on the road. Both teams have great players and both teams have outstanding coaches. The Sparks beat the Lynx on the road last season to win the WNBA championship.
At press time the Sparks were on a three game winning streak but they still need to be more consistent.
"We showed poise on our last road trip and I think that shows we are ready to defend our championship," said Jantel Lavender after their 75-55 victory over the San Antonio Stars last Tuesday at Staples Center. Lavender continued, "I think our team needs to learn that when other teams make runs at us we just need to sustain our play and know when to run certain plays and that's our next step toward championship play." Another key to winning the championship is passing and spacing and the Sparks looked good in those categories last Tuesday. Against the Stars the Sparks had 22 assists.
"Our team is really unselfish," said Lavender. "We are always looking for the open player. As we move forward we know that making the extra passes is going to be important."
After Sunday's game against the Lynx the Sparks have two more home games to finish the regular season. They play Atlanta on Friday, September 1 at 7:30 p.m. and third place Connecticut (19-10) on Sunday, September 3, at 1 p.m.
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