​LOS ANGELES — The Sparks (8-11) are mired in a three-game skid, each defeat a blowout that has felt more damaging than the typical slide. In Toronto, Marina Mabrey erupted for a record-tying 53 points, and Los Angeles still fell by 28. Then came a 24-point loss in Indiana, followed by an 18-point home defeat to Seattle after eight days off, leaving fans and players wondering where the spark went and how to reignite it.
The Sparks will try to turn the page against the Fever on Wednesday at Crypto.com Arena. While Indiana’s squad is formidable, Los Angeles is the one in need of answers to stop the bleeding. The season isn’t even at its halfway mark, yet the urgency to reverse course is clear. “We’re all competitive. We all want to win. We all want to make sure we’re playing at our best,” Sparks guard Rae Burrell told John W. Davis of the Southern California News Group after Monday’s loss. “When we feel like we’re not doing that, it’s frustrating. Like I said, try not to let it consume you. See what you need to fix for the next game and flush it. And keep going.”
Sparks coach Lynne Roberts appeared puzzled after the Storm defeat, particularly given eight days to prepare for a team ranked below them in the standings. Yet the scoreboard told a different story, as Los Angeles managed just 64 points. “We just weren’t good offensively,” Roberts said during Monday’s postgame session. “I didn’t anticipate… the vibe was good. The players were in it. We had a great week. Maybe it was that. I don’t know. We just didn’t have it on offense. I don’t know what else to say other than that… but it might just have been one of those nights.”
Ariel Atkins acknowledged the ongoing struggle after the June 27 loss to the Fever, admitting that the team still hasn’t found its footing. “I think it feels like a lot of things,” Atkins answered when asked whether the challenges were mental. “I hate to say that this far into the season, but it feels like we’re still trying to figure things out. It could be mental; it could be, but it’s something we’ve got to figure out.”
What the Sparks need is a breakthrough against the Fever, who sit fifth in the standings at 12-8 but are not far ahead and could widen the gap quickly if Los Angeles doesn’t stabilize Wednesday. “Honestly, I think just working on culture, not even championship culture,” forward Nneka Ogwumike said about reinvigorating the group. “Understanding what the standard is, both on an individual level and a collective level. Being pros, going out there and doing what these coaches ask us to do. We have to be disciplined and consistent every single day from the first person to the last (developmental player).”
The Fever feature Caitlin Clark, who was listed as probable for the upcoming game after not playing in their previous matchup, while Aliyah Boston is listed as questionable. The path to turning this season around for Los Angeles starts with a reset, a clear plan, and a renewed commitment to playing to their potential as they host Indiana in what could be a pivotal moment for the Sparks’ campaign.