The Los Angeles Sparks take on the Phoenix Mercury in their season opener Saturday. It is a star-studded match up the Sparks feature, Candace Parker Nneka Ogwumike, and Chelsea Gray. The Mercury have Brittney Griner, Diana Taurasi, and newly acquired Skylar Diggins-Smith.
Both teams will be looking to get off to a good start. Taurasi is back from injury and will have something to prove. The Los Angeles Sparks will be missing two crucial players in Chiney Ogwumike and Kristi Toliver; both players opted out for the 2020 season. Here are three keys to victory for the Sparks:
Contain Griner and Taurasi
The Sparks must do their best to slow down Griner. I think Griner is poised for an MVP like season. She will be fully rested heading into this season. Sparks have a lot of bodies they can throw at Griner with Parker, Ogwumike, Marie Gulich, and Kristine Anigwe. Expect all four of those players to try to slow down Griner. The Mercury star center can’t be stopped, but the Sparks must make her work hard for all her points, they need to mix things up. Sometimes send double teams, Los Angeles needs to make her feel uncomfortable.
Also, healthy Taurasi will be a problem. When healthy, she is one of the best players in the WNBA. Sparks must make her work hard as well on the offensive end. Make sure to keep a body on her challenge every shot. Los Angeles must attack Taurasi on the defensive end to try to wear her down. Make her play as hard on defense as on offense.
Push The Tempo
On the offensive end, the Sparks will need to push the tempo, with Griner being the anchor of the Mercury defense, it will be hard to score inside in half-court sets. Sparks must defend well to create open court opportunities. Gray must do her best to push the tempo as fast as she can. Parker, when she gets defensive rebounds, can push the pace as well. Coach Fisher should be preaching to the team that fastbreak points are the key to the game.
Role Players
Both teams have big three’s, but this game will come down to which role players will step up. The Sparks have some excellent role players in Riquna Williams, Tierra Ruffin-Pratt, and newly Seimone Augustus. Also, they have Reshanda Gray, who will do the dirty work. Williams, Ruffin-Pratt, and Augustus will see many open shots; they must knock them down for the Sparks to beat the Mercury on Saturday.
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