Sparks Begin New Chapter in Fitting Style
The celebration took a little longer to arrive this time, but the jewelry will still feel as nice.
Bling bling, Chapter Two, gets underway at Staples Center tonight. After opening the 2003 season with four straight road games -- and four wins -- the Sparks return home to collect another ring for winning a second consecutive championship.
Nearly every player from last year’s team is scheduled to be on hand for the presentation, which takes place 30 minutes before the 7 p.m. game against Sacramento.
Along with the players on the current roster -- Lisa Leslie, Tamecka Dixon, DeLisha Milton, Latasha Byears, Nikki Teasley, Mwadi Mabika and Nicky McCrimmon -- Sophia Witherspoon, Marlies Askamp and Erika Desouza are flying in to receive their prizes.
Askamp retired after the season, returning to her native Germany to pursue a law career. Witherspoon has not been signed by a team this season. Desouza is still under contract to the Sparks but this season is concentrating on working with her national team in Brazil to prepare for a 2004 Olympic bid.
The only player not expected to attend is Vedrana Gergin-Fonseca, who suffered a torn knee ligament while playing in France and has not been cleared to travel.
Mabika said this 2002 memento means as much as the 2001 championship ring because “last year was a tough year. Every team came in and played very hard against us. And we know everyone will play hard against us this year. So we’re gonna stay focused.”
Added Dixon: “It was hard to wait, but we did our four games on the road and the rest of the league has to catch up to us now. And this ring ... I always say respect. The first one was about respect, but the second year was about respect in a bigger frame. We want the city of L.A. to respect us now. We’re winning, we’re out in the community constantly to promote this game. I hope people embrace us this year.”
Local fans didn’t do too badly last year in supporting the team. The Sparks averaged 11,651 in attendance, third best in the WNBA behind Washington and New York. As of Wednesday there were 4,000 seats available for tonight’s game.
Despite the Sparks’ 4-0 start, Coach Michael Cooper feels there is room for improvement.
Leslie is rolling smoothly, averaging a league-best 21.5 points and 10.8 rebounds. Mabika (14.3), Dixon (13.3) and Teasley (12.8) are also averaging in double figures.
But Cooper believes the team can shoot higher than its current 41.5% field-goal percentage. And the starting lineup has already logged some heavy playing time; the lowest is Teasley at 31.8 minutes a game.
“We’re looking for some consistency,” Cooper said. “But I’m sure we’ll get there.”