Holdsclaw Drops Hints; Sparks Win
Is Chamique Holdsclaw done?
The Sparks’ three-time All-Star forward, who had season highs of 22 points and 12 rebounds in the Sparks’ 98-84 victory over the Phoenix Mercury at Staples Center on Tuesday, made a couple surprising hints.
Speaking to reporters during her pregame warmups, Holdsclaw said she would think seriously about retiring if the Sparks won the WNBA championship this season.
“The championship is what I’m searching for,” Holdsclaw said. “If I win this year, I’m done. That championship is the most important thing. I’ve won in high school and in college.
“I am enjoying playing, that’s what makes it exciting. And I think we have a team capable of going out and achieving that. Each day I’m watching the team grow.... It’s the same way I felt last year but we didn’t achieve that.”
Holdsclaw, 28, has been going through a difficult period since her father and stepfather, who live on the East Coast, were recently diagnosed with cancer. She missed the first two weeks of this season to be with her family. Tuesday was her third game since returning.
The Sparks (6-3), who were led by Lisa Leslie with 26 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, have won all three of those games and have moved into a tie for first place in the Western Conference with Houston.
When asked whether she understood fully what she was suggesting, Holdsclaw said yes. “There are other interests and things in life that I’d like to try.”
Those words came before the Sparks’ best all-around game so far, which included a couple of milestones.
Mwadi Mabika, on her second basket at the 8:02 mark in the first quarter, became the 12th player in league history to reach 3,000 career points.
Up next was Christi Thomas, who came off the bench in the second quarter and quickly scored 16 points as the Sparks -- thanks in part to a 19-3 run over a 4:10 stretch -- bolted to a 53-37 halftime lead. She finished with 18 points and six rebounds. Thomas, in her third season, had never scored more than 14 points in a WNBA game.
“You know they’re always” going to double-team Lisa Leslie and Tuesday “they doubled her very hard,” said Thomas, who made eight of 10 shots. including the Sparks’ only three-pointer. “We have to take the opportunities that are given to us, and tonight was my night.”
Diana Taurasi had a career-high 32 points for Phoenix (2-5), including seven three-pointers, and rookie Cappie Pondexter had 20.
However, the Mercury could not offset the Sparks’ 43-29 rebounding edge or their shooting percentage edge -- .58.2% (39 of 67) compared to 39% (32 of 82).
The 98 points were the most the Sparks have ever scored against Phoenix.
* WNBA BOX SCORES, D7