WNBA Los Angeles Sparks

Sparks To Play Three Pre-Season Games

Published on February 20, 2008 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Los Angeles Sparks News Release


LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Sparks, energized by the return of Lisa Leslie and securing the No. 1 WNBA draft pick, will prepare for their 2008 WNBA season with three pre-season games: at Atlanta, at Chicago, and against Minnesota at the University of North Dakota.

The Sparks open their pre-season by playing the inaugural game for the Atlanta Dream, the newest WNBA franchise, on May 3 in Atlanta. It will mark the return to WNBA action of Leslie, who sat out the 2007 season due to the birth of her first child. They take on the Chicago Sky on May 8 in Chicago. The team will conclude its pre-season tour at Grand Forks, N.D. against the Minnesota Lynx on May 11.

Sparks' co-owner Carla Christofferson is a native of Tolna, N.D. and an alum of the University of North Dakota. She graduated summa cum laude and was the recipient of the 2007 UND Young Alumni Achievement Award.

"I am thrilled that the Los Angeles Sparks are partnering with the University of North Dakota to bring the WNBA to Grand Forks," said Christofferson. "UND and North Dakota both have such a long history of supporting men and women in sports, and we think this is another opportunity to showcase the WNBA to the great state I grew up in, and to showcase North Dakota and UND to the WNBA."

"We're looking forward with great anticipation to the 2008 season," said co-owner Kathy Goodman. "This pre-season trip will provide coach (Michael) Cooper a perfect chance to assess our training camp roster before final cuts and to build team chemistry that will be so vital during the season."

The Sparks are 3-1 overall against the Sky, 1-1 in 2007. They are 29-6 overall and were 2-2 in 2007 versus the Lynx.

The Sparks will begin their 2008 WNBA regular season May 17 at the defending WNBA champion Phoenix Mercury. The game airs at 12:30 p.m. PT on ABC. The Sparks play their home opener at STAPLES Center on June 6 at 7:30 p.m. with a rematch against the Mercury.

For Sparks' season ticket information, call 1-877-44-SPARKS.

Check out the Los Angeles Sparks Statistics

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