SPARKS TONIGHT at San Antonio, 5 PDT

Site -- SBC Center.

Radio -- 690.

Records -- Sparks 16-16, Silver Stars 7-26.

Record vs. Silver Stars -- 2-0.

Update -- Because Houston beat Phoenix on Thursday night to clinch a playoff berth, the Sparks, winners of three in a row, need to win tonight and Saturday, or split their last two games and hope Phoenix also loses Saturday in Seattle. San Antonio, which has lost nine of its last 10 and will finish last in the West for the second consecutive season, has started making changes. Coach Dan Hughes also will become the general manager, and former general manager Clarissa Davis-Wrightsil will work solely on the business side as the chief operating officer. It will be interesting to see if Hughes continues a youth movement with the Silver Stars. If so, fans could be getting their last look at veterans such as Shannon Johnson, Edna Campbell and Nikki McCray.

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-- Mike Terry