The sputtering Los Angeles Sparks will try to snap a three-game losing skid on Wednesday when they welcome the visiting Indiana Fever.
Indiana (12-8) is entering the second matchup of a four-game road swing. Indiana began its Western Conference tour on Sunday with the first of book-ending games against Las Vegas. The 84-68 Fever win marked their third victory in the last four outings – one of which includes a 111-87 blowout of Los Angeles on June 27.
Kelsey Mitchell scored 26 points in last month’s rout of the Sparks (8-11) and had 27 in Sunday’s 84-68 defeat of the reigning WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces. Mitchell’s 21.9 points per game are second-most in the league, just ahead of teammate Caitlin Clark’s 21.2.
The Fever were without Clark in the previous meeting against Los Angeles, as well as the start of the road trip in Las Vegas due to a back injury sustained in a June 24 loss to Phoenix. The prolific combo guard, whose 8.2 assists per game rank second in the league, told The Indianapolis Star on Tuesday she is “optimistic” about playing on Wednesday.
“Obviously, from a health standpoint, just getting back into it, I would assume I’d be on a minutes restriction (Wednesday). Still hopeful of a little bit more than 20 if I’m able to go,” Clark said. “Hopefully, I feel good after the game versus Los Angeles and then will be available in (Las) Vegas (on Sunday).”
Following a quick turnaround to Phoenix on Thursday, Indiana returns to Las Vegas on July 12. While awaiting a decision on Clark’s availability for the upcoming back-to-back, Indiana can continue to rely on Aliyah Boston to help pick up some of the scoring slack.
After her 18-point, 10-rebound double-double in Las Vegas, Boston is averaging 17.1 points and 8.6 boards per contest.
Boston faces a Los Angeles interior in Dearica Hamby and Nneka Ogwumike who have carried the load in the absence of Kelsey Plum. Plum, who is averaging 23.9 points per game, suffered a lower left leg injury in mid-June and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
Despite Hamby’s 53 points over the last three games, and Ogwumike’s 52 points in that same span, the Sparks have struggled to find consistent offensive contributions elsewhere. The result are three consecutive losses of 18-plus points after Monday’s 82-64 loss at home to Seattle.
Los Angeles shot a dismal 5-of-29 from 3-point range, and no Sparks’ scorers other than Hamby or Ogwumike notched more than eight points.
“That’s what I’ve said many times: the best thing about this league, also the hardest thing… but the best thing is that you have to turn the page,” Los Angeles coach Lynne Roberts said. “We’re going to play a good Indiana team…We’ve got to turn the page and just keep plowing through.”
–Field Level Media
