SPARKS TONIGHT

at Phoenix, 7

Site -- America West Arena.

Radio -- KLAC (570).

Records -- Sparks 6-4, Mercury 4-4.

Record vs. Mercury (2003) -- 4-0.

Update -- The Sparks get their first regular-season look at rookie phenom Diana Taurasi, who ranks fifth in the league in scoring at 17.4 points. Phoenix last beat the Sparks on July 17, 1999, and is eager to end a 16-game losing streak against Los Angeles. The Mercury will be without forward Penny Taylor, the team’s second-leading scorer at 12.3 points. Taylor had to return to Australia and play in an exhibition series against China this weekend to be eligible for her country’s Olympic team. In the Sparks’ victory over Connecticut on Monday, Lisa Leslie set a league record for the most defensive rebounds in a game, 14, without an offensive rebound.