True test for hot Sparks awaits as they meet Liberty

The Los Angeles Sparks, who have not qualified for the WNBA playoffs since 2020, are making a strong push.

Los Angeles, which will visit the defending league champion New York Liberty on Saturday, is 1 1/2 games outside the eighth and final playoff spot.

The Sparks (10-14), however, are on their biggest roll of the season, having won four straight games.

In fact, the only WNBA team with a longer active win streak is the Liberty, with five straight victories.

"We're figuring it out," Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said. "For the past month, we've been playing pretty well."

Prior to this run, the Sparks had not won consecutive games all season.

So, what has sparked the Sparks?

First, the schedule during these past four games has been light, including two games against Connecticut, which at 3-20 has the worst record in the league. The other two wins were over the Washington Mystics, who have a losing record at 11-12.

Secondly, the Sparks have scored 90 or more points in four straight games. That matches the franchise record, set in 2013.

Los Angeles is led by guard Kelsey Plum, who ranks third in the league in scoring (20.1) and is tied for fourth in assists (5.8). She leads the WNBA with 60 made 3-point shots.

New York (17-6) won its only meeting so far this season against the Sparks, prevailing 89-79 on July 3.

Los Angeles blew an 11-point lead in the third quarter as Plum was held to 13 points on 2-for-10 shooting, including 0-for-4 on 3-pointers.

Natasha Cloud led the Liberty with team highs in points (23) and assists (seven).

On Friday, the Liberty defeated the Phoenix Mercury 89-76 as Sabrina Ionescu scored a game-high 29 points and added a game-high-tying eight assists.

The Liberty, who haven't lost since July 6, are 12-2 at home.

As for the Liberty, this week they signed Emma Meesseman, a 6-foot-4 center who won a WNBA title with Washington in 2019. She was named the MVP of the WNBA Finals that year.

She was also an All-Star in 2022, which was the last time she played in the league. Since then, the Belgium native has been starring in Europe, and her return date to the WNBA has not been specified.

"Listen, we wanted to make this team better than it was last year," Liberty All-Star Breanna Stewart said. "I feel like we now have the pieces. We just have to put it together."

--Field Level Media