The Los Angeles Sparks have traveled to Arizona for the final time this season as they will go up against the Phoenix Mercury, looking to snap a six-game losing streak.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!While they have star Dearica Hamby who can take over any given game, the Sparks will be mightily shorthanded as Azurá Stevens (Left Arm), Cameron Brink (Left Knee- NWT), Lexie Brown (Crohn’s- NWT) and Layshia Clarendon (Illness- NWT) are all out for the matchup tonight.
Brink, Los Angeles’ 2024 second-overall draft pick, recently underwent surgery after she tore her ACL and will be out for the rest of the season. Before her rookie year ended abruptly, the 6-foot-4 forward averaged 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 15 WNBA games.
In the offseason, Brown was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, then went from a normal starter to a bench option this year and is now out indefinitely. She will be reevaluated after the All-Star Break, but this is another huge miss to the Sparks. Prior to her absence, the Boston native played 16 games (eight starts) and tallied 8.1 points, 3.3 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game.
Stevens hasn’t made her 2024 season debut as she is currently dealing with a lingering left arm injury she suffered in the offseason. In her first year as a Spark last season, she played 35 games (29 starts) and averaged 10.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. The UConn product previously spent three years (2020-22) with the Chicago Sky and her first two seasons (2018-19) with the Dallas Wings.
Sustaining a concussion earlier on in the season, Clarendon will be out of Los Angeles’ starting lineup due to an illness. The 11-year WNBA veteran has appeared in 14 games this season and made 11 starts. Clarendon accumulated 4.8 points, 2.6 assists and 1.9 rebounds per game, off to a slower start than her average last year of 11.1 points.
The Mercury, however, has no injuries on the game status report and is expected to be at full health.
Tonight at Footprint Center, the Sparks clash with the Mercury at 7 p.m. PT.
WATCH: Phoenix Mercury’s Charisma Osborne leading with purpose, defying the odds
*Get the BEST Phoenix sports insider information, and exclusive content. SIGN UP HEREÂ to unlock our premium content!*
Reporter Alec Cipollini covers ASU Athletics, the Phoenix Mercury and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
