Sparks will face Mystics, who are still looking for their first win of the season – Whittier Daily News

Dearica Hamby of the Sparks is fouled by Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces during the third quarter of a game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on May 18, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES — The Sparks will once again look to win their first game of the 2024 WNBA season when they take on the Washington Mystics on Tuesday night at Long Beach State Stadium.

The Sparks (0-2) are led by two-time All-Star forward Dearic Hamby, who is averaging a double-double with 24.5 points and 11.5 rebounds and has a game-high 29 points and nine rebounds in the team’s 89-82 loss Saturday with the Las Vegas Aces.

Despite two losses, the Sparks were competing against a two-time WNBA champion.

Sparks forward Kia Nurse, who was nearly three years removed from a season-ending ACL injury in October 2021, is averaging 18 points per game, well above her career high of 13.7 in her only All-Star season. Guard Lexie Brown is averaging 12 points and rookie Rickea Jackson is averaging 10 points, including 13 off the bench against the Aces.

However, the Sparks have struggled to provide enough consistency in scoring off the bench. In addition to Jackson’s 13 points, bench players combined for six points against the Aces between Zia Cooke (four) and Stephanie Talbot (two). Neither Aari McDonald nor Li Yueru scored.

The Sparks are shooting 37.8% from three-point range, which is second-best in the league so far and well above last season’s 33.3%, which was good for ninth out of 12 teams.

Washington (0-3) is led by two-time All-Star guard Ariel Atkins (15.7 points per game). Former Sparks guard Brittney Sykes, who suffered an ankle injury against the Connecticut Sun on May 17, is considered day-to-day.