Los Angeles Sparks Basketball Team

CHICAGO -- DeLisha Milton-Jones scored 24 points, including eight in overtime, to lead the Sparks to an 81-77 victory over the Chicago Sky on Tuesday. Rookie Sylvia Fowles, the second overall pick in the draft by Chicago, strained her knee in a third-quarter collision with Milton-Jones. She hobbled off the court and went to the hospital for an examination. She did not return, but Sky Coach Steven Key said Fowles will be fine.

Before the host at the Marina del Rey restaurant even took a step toward seating her, Candace Parker, the WNBA's most prized rookie in 12 seasons, was approached by a middle-aged man with a cellphone pressed to his ear. "Can you sign my T-shirt?' " he asked. "It's for my friend on the other line.' " In those 12 seasons, members of the Sparks, other than maybe Lisa Leslie, could have worn their uniforms in public and still go unrecognized.

They threw out the welcome mat in the Sparks' home opener Friday night, and the Phoenix Mercury were more than happy to pull it out from under them. The Sparks built an 18-point lead early the fourth quarter, giving the Staples Center fans plenty to cheer about, but Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter were unstoppable down the stretch and the Sparks couldn't seem to do anything right, adding up to a 85-79 victory for the Mercury.

Detroit Shock Coach Bill Laimbeer was describing the similarities in style between his WNBA team and the Detroit Pistons, where he bumped, banged and scowled for 14 seasons. He then made comparisons between the Sparks and the Lakers teams of the 1980s, when Sparks Coach Michael Cooper made a name for himself as a feisty Lakers veteran.

SAN ANTONIO -- Ann Wauters had 21 points and Sophia Young had 20 to lead San Antonio to a 77-75 victory over the Sparks on Friday night, the Silver Stars' fifth consecutive victory. Becky Hammon had 19 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Silver Stars. The matchup of the top two teams in the Western Conference seemed to be in hand when the Silver Stars took a 52-34 lead with 7:01 left in the third quarter.

It was a long wait. Candace Parker's dunk Sunday against the Indiana Fever gave Sparks teammate Lisa Leslie some company, at last, in their select group: women who have dunked in a WNBA game. It only took six years. But if you ask Parker, who stuffed it in the last minute of the Sparks' 77-63 victory, she says it shouldn't take long for someone else to join them.

vs. Seattle, 7:30 Site -- Staples Center. Radio -- 1150. Records -- Sparks 9-3, Storm 8-6. Record vs. Storm (2007) -- 0-4. Update -- Lauren Jackson of the Storm took advantage of Lisa Leslie's absence last year to sweep the Sparks. This year, both centers lead their teams in scoring and rebounding. The Storm, which has Sheryl Swoopes, Swin Cash and Yolanda Griffith this season, reinforced its front court Sunday, trading a 2009 second-round draft pick to Atlanta for Camille Little.

vs. Washington, 7:30 Site -- Staples Center. Radio -- 1150. Records -- Sparks 10-3, Mystics 5-8. Record vs. Mystics -- 1-0. Update -- The Mystics should be plenty motivated to perform well against the Sparks, who rolled into Washington May 31 and left with a 70-59 victory. In that game, Mystics guard Alana Beard scored a season-low nine points on three-for-13 shooting. She has averaged 19.9 points in the eight games since.