Los Angeles, CA – Tonight the Los Angeles Sparks wear the title of the best team in the WNBA for another week with their win over the Washington Mystics 93 – 82.
These last few games have seen the Sparks come out sluggish in the first quarter but once they start warming up they bring the New Los Angeles Showtime. Tonight would be no different. Both teams look like they were still in warm-up mode in the first with a few sparks of life from the Mystics Tayler Hill and Ivory Latta both delivering lead gaining three pointers. But Jantel Lavender, Candace Parker and Kristi Toliver quickly eradicated that lead the last minute of the first quarter. Putting the Sparks within one.
Ivory Latta and Natasha Cloud made the most of their efforts by concentrating on the three-point shot, they were proving to be the most effective tactic keeping them in the game. Essence Carson looking like a lion stocking her prey got hip to the Mystics strategy and went in for the running layup with a ball steeling chaser. The Sparks would never look back and the Mystics would never have another lead in the game.
Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwuike went in for the kill during the third with their air raid of jump shot’s. Emma Meesseman (24 points) tried to put up a good struggle against the Sparks by making opportunities that would let the Mystics tie the game one last time before Los Angeles started their sprint for the win. The Mystic did a little better in the paint tonight then they did in their last match up with the Sparks. But in the end when you have athletes like Nneka Ogwuike (22 points 7 rebounds), Candace Parker ( 26 points ,11 rebounds, 9 assist), Jantel Lavender (20 points, 7 rebounds) Essence Carson ( 2 steals) and Alana Beard ( 3 steals) consistently delivering you numbers like these or better night after night you know exactly why the Sparks are leading the pack in the WNBA.
They Sparks will hit the road for a 7 game road trip with an Olympic break squeezed in. They will not be back to Staples Center until Thursday September 1st vs. San Antonio Stars.
