WNBA Los Angeles Sparks

Leslie, Parker To Lead Way As Sparks Open 2008 Season

Published on May 16, 2008 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Los Angeles Sparks News Release


LOS ANGELES - Following a perfect 3-0 pre-season, the Los Angeles Sparks open the WNBA championship season Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at Phoenix against the defending champion Mercury. The game will be televised by ABC.

After a five-game opening trip to Phoenix, Atlanta, Indiana, Washington and Chicago, the Sparks play their home opener at STAPLES Center on June 6 at 7:30 p.m. with a rematch against the Mercury.

The Sparks' 12th season is being greeted with great anticipation due to the return of Lisa Leslie and the selection of two-time NCAA Player of the Year Candace Parker with the No. 1 over-all pick in the WNBA draft. The team also was strengthened by the off-season acquisition of DeLisha Milton-Jones, the signing of free agent Marie Ferdinand-Harris and the return of starting point guard Temeka Johnson.

Leslie missed the 2007 season following the birth of her first child, daughter Lauren Jolie Lockwood on June 15. Parker is one of the most exciting players to come into the WNBA after leading Tennessee to back-to-back NCAA titles. Milton-Jones, a two-time WNBA All-Star and a member of the Sparks' 2001 and 2002 WNBA championship teams, was acquired in a trade with Washington. Harris is a three-time WNBA All-Star who has averaged 11.5 points during her WNBA career.

Mix that explosive group with returnees including Sidney Spencer and head coach Michael Cooper's rotation will be one of the strongest in the WNBA. Spencer, who teamed with Parker on Tennessee's 2006 NCAA championship team, averaged 9.6 points and 4.1 rebounds in her WNBA freshman campaign.

"The 2008 season has the potential to be our best ever," Cooper said. "With Lisa back along with our other outstanding veterans and talented youngsters like Parker and Spencer, we're excited to get started on our quest to bring another championship to Los Angeles."

All 34 Sparks home and road games in the 2008 WNBA regular season will be broadcast or telecast.

A total of 24 Sparks' games will be broadcast on KTLK AM1150. Eleven games will be telecast either on Fox Sports Prime Ticket, Fox Sports Net West, ABC or ESPN2. The Sept. 14 regular-season finale vs. Seattle at STAPLES Center airs on both ESPN2 and AM1150 at 2 p.m., the only game scheduled for both radio and TV. Award-winning sportscaster Larry Burnett returns for his 11th season on Sparks' broadcasts and local telecasts.

Five Sparks' games will air on Fox Sports Prime Ticket: July 1 vs. New York, July 6 vs. Phoenix, July 14 vs. San Antonio, Aug. 28 vs. Sacramento and Sept. 11 vs. Atlanta. The Sept. 1 game vs. Minnesota airs on Fox Sports Net West.

The Sparks are involved in five of the league's 21 national telecasts on ABC and ESPN2. In addition to the May 17 opener, the Sparks' May 31 game at Washington airs on ABC. Other Sparks' telecasts on ESPN2 include July 10 at Sacramento and July 22 at Detroit.

For Sparks' ticket information, call 1-877-44-SPARKS. Tickets also are available by calling 1-877-WNBA-TIX or by visiting either Ticketmaster.com or wnba.com/tickets.

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