SPARKS TONIGHT

Opponent--Sacramento Monarchs.

Site--Arco Arena, Sacramento.

Time--6.

Records--Monarchs 5-9, Sparks 6-10.

Update--Moments after the Sparks had defeated the Mercury, 86-83, at Phoenix Friday night, interim Coach Julie Rousseau already was looking ahead. “What we want now is to beat Sacramento Sunday, come home and win three in a row,” she said. Brave talk from a team that had lost five of six before edging Phoenix in overtime. Meanwhile, all is peaceful at the Sacramento Monarchs . . . or so goes the official line. Pam McGee, after a week of demanding to be traded, cleaning out her locker and sulking, has asked forgiveness from her teammates and the Sacramento community. Crunch time came after the Monarchs failed to trade her to any of three teams--including the Sparks--and team officials urged her to play ball, after apologizing. McGee had an 8-for-13 night and 17 points Friday, but it wasn’t nearly enough to offset the biggest offensive WNBA outburst yet. Houston’s Cynthia Cooper scored 44 points in an 86-76 victory at Arco Arena. After tonight, the Sparks return to the Forum for a three-game stand against Utah, Houston and Charlotte, beginning Wednesday.