SPARKS TONIGHT

at Washington

1 p.m., Channel 4

* Site--MCI Center, Washington.

* Records--Sparks 17-10, Mystics 11-17.

* Record vs. Mystics--1-0.

* Update--All it takes, Orlando Woolridge said in the quiet dismay of the Sparks’ locker room Thursday night, is a victory. Just one, he said, would bring the Sparks out of their funk and recharge their drive to the WNBA playoffs. But can they beat the Mystics? in the MCI Center, where the Mystics lead the league in attendance at 14,468 a game? A big, noisy crowd played a role Thursday in Houston, where 13,514 jeered the Sparks to their third consecutive loss, 83-61, dropping them to third place in the Western Conference. The Sparks need a second-place finish to avoid a one-game playoff against Sacramento on Aug. 24 at UC Davis. The Sparks had little trouble with Washington at the Forum July 31, winning, 81-64. But, like Los Angeles, Washington is a changed team, having won five in a row. Meanwhile, the Sparks have been stuck in reverse, having lost four of five. The Sparks open a three-game homestand Monday against the Charlotte Sting.