Up next for Sparks: Saturday at Washington

AT WASHINGTON

Time: 4 PDT.

Where: Verizon Center.

On the air: Webcast, wnba.com.

Records: Sparks 4-6; Mystics 5-5.

Record vs. Mystics (2008): 1-1.

Update: The Sparks earned their first road win Thursday in a 69-60 victory over New York, which Coach Michael Cooper described as “a great game for us to win.” Sparks forward Candace Parker started in her first game and scored eight points, after debuting off the bench Sunday, 53 days after giving birth to her daughter Lailaa. “I just know that I can take a step forward every game,” Parker said. “I feel like I did take a step forward this game from last game.” The Sparks won three of their last five games, thanks to an offense that has featured Tina Thompson (13.7 points per game) and Betty Lennox (13.5 points per game). Meanwhile, the Mystics lost four of their last five games after starting the season with a 4-1 record.

-- Mark Medina