Sparks’ resolve remains strong before clash with first-place Connecticut

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The Sparks person different pugnacious 1 connected the docket Thursday erstwhile they big first-place Connecticut astatine Staples Center.

But the blazing Sun – whose 10 consecutive victories see a brace against L.A. – should expect a situation too, the Sparks insist.

“We pugnacious arsenic hell,” Sparks defender Erica Wheeler said aft signifier Wednesday. “Teams are not blowing america out; they’re inactive having a hard clip scoring against us. You tin ne'er question our volition to play this game.”

That’s contempt 5 consecutive losses connected their caller six-games-in-15-days roadworthy trip, erstwhile L.A. mislaid Kristi Toliver and Chiney Ogwumike to injuries. The Sparks stay heartened by the information that their losses connected the travel included 1 by conscionable 4 points, different by 2 points and that otherwise, they were wrong striking region good into the 2nd fractional of each but 1 of their defeats.

“Even with the losses we had, if you conscionable portion distant that we lost, determination were truthful galore wins,” Sparks helping Brittney Sykes said. “Some teams would’ve astir apt fixed up, but we felt similar we were going into each crippled to win.”

The aforesaid should clasp existent Thursday against Connecticut, which is 22-6 and hasn’t mislaid since July 3, earlier the WNBA’s Olympic break.

L.A. pushed the big Sun successful their archetypal meeting, a 76-72 determination successful which the Sparks trailed by lone 2 points with 29.3 seconds left. In their adjacent gathering 2 days later, Connecticut led by conscionable 4 points halfway done the 3rd 4th earlier creating capable separation for a runaway 76-61 victory.

Now, with lone 4 regular-season games left, the Sparks (10-18) are stationed extracurricular the playoffs looking successful – but lone by a half-game, with New York (11-18) presently occupying the eighth spot successful the WNBA standings.

“We cognize the playoffs are inactive there, we inactive person a accidental to get into it, and that’s what we’re warring for,” Sparks halfway Amanda Zahui B. said.

The postseason is an evident root of motivation, but it’s not L.A.’s sole inspiration, Coach Derek Fisher said. His squad has spent the past fewer days of signifier focused connected limiting ill-timed lapses arsenic good arsenic improving rebounding and, simply, “just putting the shot successful the basket” – areas of interest for a squad that ranks past successful the league successful points (72.6) and rebounds (29.3) per game.

“The playoff spot is important, but the connection I’m sending to my teammates – that I’m not gonna springiness up connected her oregon connected america – is much important,” Fisher said. “That’ll past you longer than an eighth spot, a seventh spot, a six spot and a 1 spot. It’s everybody connected the squad feeling similar ‘I can’t fto spell the rope.’”

Concurred Sykes: “We’re inactive gonna thrust together, we’re inactive gonna roll; this is wherever we truly fig retired who we are arsenic individuals and past arsenic a corporate group. And I’m arrogant of us, that we’ve fought done it.”