Up next for Sparks: Tuesday vs. Washington

VS. WASHINGTON

When: 7:30.

Where: Staples Center.

On the air: Webcast on wnba.com.

Records: Sparks 9-13, Mystics 12-12.

Record vs. Mystics: 0-1.

Update: Both teams are struggling to solidify their chances in the playoffs. The Sparks are 3-3 this month, but they lost two home games last week, to the New York Liberty and Sacramento Monarchs, who stand at the bottom of the Eastern and Western conferences, respectively. The Sparks are one game behind the San Antonio Silver Stars and Minnesota Lynx. All three are jockeying for the final two playoff positions in the West. The Mystics are a half game behind the Chicago Sky for the final spot in the East. Sparks forward Candace Parker is one of eight players announced Monday to represent Team USA for the 2012 London Olympics. “After winning an Olympic gold medal and having it around your neck” in the Beijing Olympics, “you don’t want to finish second again,” she said.

-- Mark Medina and Mario Aguirre