Sparks hope to keep winning despite injuries

Injuries are part of the game, and the Sparks hope to continue to improve despite missing key players. They are currently playing without sisters Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike who are out because of knee injuries, but if they can continue to play like they did last Saturday, June 5, at the Los Angeles Convention Center they will be an even better team when the talented Ogwumike sisters return.

Erica Wheeler stepped up and scored a season-high 22 points to help Los Angeles Sparks beat the Chicago Sky 68-63 last Saturday. The Sparks have also benefitted from having a healthy Amanda Zahui B at the center position. She missed several games at the beginning of the season with back problems. She logged her first double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds. The seven-year veteran scored her 1,000 point in the win.

Wheeler and guard Te'a Cooper put consistent pressure on the opposing defense with a constant downhill barrage. Cooper and Wheeler relentlessly attacked the heart of the Sky defense throughout the game.

"Fish (head coach Derek Fisher), talked to me about just being aggressive and just attacking their bigs," said Wheeler. "Because we know that their bigs are not that fast, that downhill drive is lethal when you're fast. My goal today was to be super aggressive and that's what I did."Wheeler ensured to remind Chicago that she meant business. The speedy guard gave the Sky an earful after several buckets down the stretch.

Coach Fisher praised his team's effort and energy. "Overall in the team's effort and just getting this win today, this was all heart. Just because they didn't want to let each other down,"

After securing consecutive wins at home, Los Angeles traveled to the Nation's Capital to play the Washington Mystics last Thursday and they stayed on the road to face Minnesota on Saturday. Their next home game Wednesday against Phoenix at the Convention Center.

Follow Eric on Twitter @elambsquared and IG @elamb5quared.