Intent on shedding a six-game home losing streak, the Los Angeles Sparks will play host to the Connecticut Sun on Sunday, with the break for the All-Star Game fast approaching.
The Sparks (6-14) have not won on their home court since May 25, when they dispatched the Chicago Sky 91-78. There were hopes early on Thursday that the skid could be vanquished, but the Minnesota Lynx stepped up the pressure in a 91-82 victory.
The Sparks jumped out to an 11-point first-quarter lead but lost the advantage for good early in the second as they dropped to 2-7 since June 14. Kelsey Plum had a team-best 17 points with a season-high 12 assists.
In her first season with Los Angeles, Plum leads the team with 19.9 points per game.
In her third game with the Sparks, after nine with the Golden State Valkyries earlier this season, Julie Vanloo scored a season-high 15. Vanloo was waived by the Valkyries on July 1 and claimed by the Sparks two days later.
“(Plum) told me: ‘Shoot when you’re open (and) play with confidence,'” Vanloo said. “Shoutout to her. She gave me some great passes. I’m just ready to shoot and help the team where I can, and I can get hot really quick. That’s what I’m known for, and I’m happy I could do that today.”
The Sun (3-17) ended a franchise-worst 10-game losing streak with a 93-83 victory at home over the Seattle Storm on Wednesday. But the teams met again at Seattle on Friday and the Storm rebounded for a 79-65 victory.
Tina Charles had 20 points with 10 assists for Connecticut on Friday after she delivered 29 points with 11 rebounds in the victory earlier in the week. They were the second and third double-doubles of the season for the veteran of 16 WNBA seasons.
Charles also passed the 8,000-point plateau in the defeat, becoming the second to do so after the league’s all-time leading scorer Diana Taurasi. She has 8,010.
Sun rookie Saniya Rivers tied her season high with 12 points. Connecticut played its seventh consecutive game without second-leading scorer Marina Mabry (15.2 points), who has been out since June 20 with a knee injury.
“To collectively stay together is always harder on the road, but I like the progression that we made (Friday),” Charles said. “We had some empty possessions that we can clear up. Missed some defensive schemes here and there.”
–Field Level Media
