After grinding out a win over the Mystics at home on Sunday, the Sparks will be right back at it on Monday as they travel to Seattle for the second night of a back-to-back.
LA can clinch the season series against the Storm with a win. More importantly, Seattle sits just above them in the playoff race with the Sparks still on the outside looking in.
Start time and TV schedule
Who: Los Angeles Sparks vs. Seattle Storm
When: Sep. 1, 7 p.m. PT
Where: Climate Pledge Arena
Watch: NBA TV
With only six games remaining in the season and
the Sparks sitting two games out of the playoffs, every contest the rest of the way will be a must-win for LA. However, Monday’s Labor Day duel will carry even greater importance as the Storm are one of those sides sitting just above the Sparks.
LA’s postseason push will hinge on winning in Seattle.
A victory will pull the Sparks to within reach of the playoffs again and, equally important, will clinch the season series for LA. With the playoffs being so tight, it’s an extremely important tiebreaker to have in the back pocket.
But if the recent meetings between the two sides are anything to go by, this will not be an easy contest for LA. Dearica Hamby’s game-winning three-point play with just over five seconds left was all that separated the two sides last time out. Prior to that, two overtimes were needed before LA could secure the win, which came in Seattle.
So, while the Sparks have had the upper hand in the last two showdowns, it’s been by very narrow margins. By whatever means necessary, they’ll have to come away with the win on Monday as a loss means they’ll drop three games back of the playoffs with five games left, effectively ending any chances at making the playoffs.
No pressure, then, for LA, who will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back while Seattle last played on Saturday at home and will have the rest advantage. But the Sparks only have themselves to blame for being in this position.
Notes and Updates
- The Sparks won’t have an injury report for this game after playing on Sunday. However, they’ve had a clean bill of health for a while now.
- As for the Storm, the lone name on the injury report is Katie Lou Samuelson, who is out for the season with a knee injury.
- Following the Sparks’ win on Sunday, the Fever lost to the Valkyries. Indiana is now the eighth seed with Seattle and Golden State both being a half-game ahead of them. LA holds the tiebreaker over the Fever.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
