Sparks Tonight

VS. PHOENIX, 7:30

Fox Sports Net 2

Site--Staples Center.

Radio--KWKU (1220).

Records--Sparks 25-3, Mercury 11-17.

Record vs. Mercury--2-0.

Update--Fan Appreciation Night should put enough people in Staples Center to give the Sparks some support. There is plenty to celebrate; Monday’s 81-66 victory over Indiana stretched the Sparks’ WNBA-record winning streak to 16 games and kept them undefeated at home (14-0) this season. A new pair of shoe inserts and daily treatment has significantly reduced the pain in guard Tamecka Dixon’s right heel, and she expects to stay in the starting lineup. Phoenix was eliminated from the Western Conference playoff race with Monday’s 62-48 loss at Houston. The road has not been kind; the Mercury is a league-worst 3-11 away from America West Arena. Along with leading scorer Jennifer Gillom (13.0), one of the bright spots for Phoenix has been the steadily improving play of 6-foot-8 Russian center Maria Stepanova. She ranks third in the league in blocked shots (2.04) and has averaged 12.5 points and 7.1 rebounds in her last 10 games.

Tickets--(877) 962-8499.