SPARKS TONIGHT

vs. Charlotte, 5

Channel 9

* Site--Great Western Forum.

* Radio--KPLS (830).

* Records--Sparks 5-2, Sting 1-7.

* Update--Charlotte, the WNBA’s attendance laggard (7,081 per game) last season, now has a new problem: a bad team. The Sting is having to go the distance with sore-kneed Dawn Staley at the point, wing Andrea Stinson and Rhonda Mapp inside. Stinson is among the league leaders in scoring and Mapp is a top-10 rebounder. But there’s little help elsewhere. Charlotte expected early help from its top draft pick, 6-foot-6 Summer Erb from North Carolina State, but lingering foot problems have limited her availability. Cass Bauer, a 6-4 former Long Beach StingRay, now starts for Charlotte. The Sparks get a day off Monday after back-to-back games twice in one week. Los Angeles plays Houston on Tuesday night at the Forum before embarking upon a four-game Eastern trip.

* Tickets--(310) 330-2434.