Sparks’ playoff push continues against Atlanta
LOS ANGELES — With 11 games left in the regular season, the Sparks’ 2023 season can go two ways.
They can win enough games to overtake the Chicago Sky for the WNBA’s final playoff spot, or they will miss the postseason for the third consecutive season.
If it’s the latter, the franchise would be compensated with its first chance to select a promising prospect with a top-four pick in the draft. It would be the Sparks’ first lottery pick since selecting Nneka Ogwumike, a future eight-time All-Star and 2016 MVP, as the No. 1 overall pick in 2012.
The Sparks (11-18) will look to extend their modest two-game winning streak when they host the Atlanta Dream (15-14) on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena.
The Sparks are 0-2 against Atlanta this season, including a 90-79 loss at home on July 5 as Dream All-Star guard Allisha Gray scored a game-high 23 points. A few days prior, the Sparks were blown out 112-84 at Atlanta on July 2 when All-Star guard Rhyne Howard scored a career-high 43 points.
The Sparks are coming off an 87-80 win at Indiana on Tuesday, led by Ogwumike’s 20 points and 11 rebounds for her 13th double-double of the season.
Ogwumike, a 12-year veteran, is averaging a career-high 19.8 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game this season. The 6-foot-2 forward recently passed Candace Parker to become the second-leading scorer behind Lisa Leslie in franchise history.
The Sparks are currently ninth in the standings, one win outside the league’s last playoff spot behind the Chicago Sky (12-16). Meanwhile, key players like starting shooting guard Lexie Brown (non-COVID illness) and center Chiney Ogwumike (foot) have missed nearly every game since June.
After facing Atlanta, the Sparks will not take the court again until they play at the Las Vegas Aces, the league’s top team, on Aug. 19.
ATLANTA AT SPARKS
When: 4:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Crypto.com Arena
TV: WNBA League Pass