LOS ANGELES — The Sparks are at a crossroads heading into the second half of the season.
At 7-13, the Sparks are currently just outside of the playoff picture, ninth in the standings, which would put them in the 2024 WNBA draft lottery, guaranteeing them a top-four pick.
However, that would also mean not making the playoffs for the third consecutive season, and not winning a playoff game since 2019.
Before their current six-game losing streak, the Sparks were 7-7, landing as high as fifth in the WNBA standings.
However, there is hope that the team’s injury and illness woes have subsided.
The Sparks were 4-2 with guard Layshia Clarendon in the starting lineup, who was effective as the team’s small forward. Clarendon was activated Sunday after rehabbing a partial tear of the right plantar fascia for four weeks.
Meanwhile, the Sparks were 5-4 with shooting guard Lexie Brown in the team’s starting lineup. Brown missed several weeks with a non-COVID illness but practiced before the All-Star break. The 5-foot-9 guard’s career-high 42% three-point shooting, as well as her secondary ball handling, has been sorely missed.
The return of Clarendon and Brown would mean a lot for coach Curt Miller’s team and scheme, as the Sparks look to support All-Star forward Nneka Ogwumike’s career year. Ogwumike is currently averaging 19.8 points and 9.6 rebounds per game in her 12th year in the WNBA.
The Sparks will play at Minnesota on July 20 and at Dallas on July 22.
The rankings (and records through Monday, July 17):
1. Las Vegas Aces (19-2): At 19-2, the Aces are off to one of the best starts in WNBA history, running the table as the league’s No. 1 in the first half of the season. Two-time MVP and All-Star captain A’ja Wilson was joined in the All-Star game by teammates Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young. The defending WNBA champions have not missed a beat this season, and have seemingly improved their overall depth by adding two-time WNBA…
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