Up next for the Sparks: Tuesday vs. Phoenix

SPARKS TONIGHT

VS. PHOENIX

When: 7:30.

Where: Staples Center.

On the air: Prime Ticket.

Records: Sparks 1-6, Mercury 3-4.

Record vs. Mercury: 0-2.

Update: In each of their two meetings, the Sparks lost by one point to the defending champion Mercury: 78-77 on May 15 and 90-89 on June 4. Although the Sparks have struggled, former league most valuable player Candace Parker leads the league in scoring, averaging 22.7 points per game, in minutes played (36.0) and in rebounds (10.7). Phoenix’s Diana Taurasi is averaging 20.6 points and four rebounds.

--Melissa Rohlin