SPARKS TONIGHT

at Phoenix, 7

* Records--Sparks 8-4, Mercury 3-7.

* 1998 season series--2-2.

* Site--America West Arena.

* Update--The WNBA schedule makers have the Sparks playing Phoenix four times in 14 days, starting tonight. Cheryl Miller’s Mercury comes to Los Angeles on Sunday, the Sparks visit Phoenix again July 17 and the season series ends at the Great Western Forum July 21. Phoenix is struggling, a loser of three in a row and four of its last five. But the Mercury lost seven games in July last summer and still made it to the championship series with Houston. The leader and most productive player is still 35-year-old center Jennifer Gillom, the league’s No. 7 scorer at 17 points and No. 7 rebounder at 7.9. Clarissa Davis-Wrightsil, formerly of the Long Beach StingRays, is averaging 20 minutes and 10.8 points a game. Los Angeles looks for its sixth consecutive victory--and fourth straight on the road--tonight. The Sparks return to the Forum for Friday and Sunday games before taking a six-day break for the All-Star game July 14. Lisa Leslie was announced Tuesday as an All-Star starter in fan voting.