Tamecka Dixon

Tamika Whitmore had 11 points and seven rebounds to lead the Sparks to a 69-62 victory over the New York Liberty in their final exhibition game on Saturday in front of 11,180 at Madison Square Garden. Tamecka Dixon had 12 points, and Mwadi Mabika had 10 for the Sparks, who took a 41-21 halftime lead and had to hold on, with Dixon scoring their last five points at the free-throw line. Becky Hammon led the Liberty and all scorers with 16 points, and Bethany Donaphin had 14.

The race for the Western Conference and the WNBA's best record isn't over. But it's close. The Sparks, who lead the West and have the best record, held off their closest pursuer Friday by edging Seattle, 82-81, before 9,721 at Staples Center. Lisa Leslie, who had 26 points and six rebounds, scored the deciding point on a free throw with 10.5 seconds to play. Then the Sparks held their breath as a final shot by Sue Bird bounced off the side of the rim with 1.4 seconds left.

SPARKS TODAY vs. San Antonio, 12:30 p.m. Site -- Staples Center. Radio -- KPLS (830). Records -- Sparks 18-5, Silver Stars 7-16. Record vs. Silver Stars -- 1-0. Update -- Lisa Leslie, on the injured list because of a bruised right knee, will sit out at least three more games. Tamecka Dixon, whose left knee is strained, did some light shooting on her own Tuesday, but did not participate in the team's practice drills. That makes her return to the starting lineup today doubtful.

Tamika Whitmore had 11 points and seven rebounds to lead the Sparks to a 69-62 victory over the New York Liberty in their final exhibition game on Saturday in front of 11,180 at Madison Square Garden. Tamecka Dixon had 12 points, and Mwadi Mabika had 10 for the Sparks, who took a 41-21 halftime lead and had to hold on, with Dixon scoring their last five points at the free-throw line. Becky Hammon led the Liberty and all scorers with 16 points, and Bethany Donaphin had 14.

at Detroit, 1 PDT, Channel 7 Site -- The Palace at Auburn Hills. Radio -- KPLS (830). Record vs. Shock (playoffs) -- 1-0. Update -- After scoring only two points in the deciding game of the Western Conference final against Sacramento, Tamecka Dixon rebounded with 15 points against Detroit on Friday. The difference? Dixon was able to wear her contact lens in her injured right eye, and was able to see the basket more clearly. "My confidence was 100% higher on Friday," Dixon said.

Michael Cooper couldn't help but be impressed with his top sharp shooter, but it didn't stop there. "Tamecka Dixon, what a player," the Spark coach said. Dixon had a career-high 28 points and the Sparks defeated Washington, 97-91, Wednesday night as the Mystics tied a franchise record with their 11th consecutive defeat.

A 19-foot jumper by Tamecka Dixon with 18 seconds remaining gave the Sparks the final lead, and the two-time defending WNBA champions went on to beat the San Antonio Silver Stars, 80-77, in an exhibition game Saturday before 3,280 fans at Long Beach State. The Sparks' Lisa Leslie, who played center and small forward, had 25 points and 10 rebounds. The Silver Stars will play their first season in San Antonio after being based in Salt Lake City, where they were the Utah Starzz, since 1997.

Tamecka Dixon came off the team flight from Charlotte, N.C., Friday using crutches to keep her weight off her painful right heel. She didn't practice with the Sparks Friday evening, but remains determined to play today. If Dixon cannot play, reserve guard Nicky McCrimmon said she will be ready. "Whenever [Coach Michael Cooper] decides to play me, I'll go out there and do what needs to be done," McCrimmon said.

There were times during the regular season that Tamecka Dixon looked as if she wanted to be anywhere but on a basketball court. There were spasms of turnovers and bad shots. She was a non-factor in late-season losses to Seattle and Houston. Coach Michael Cooper put her on the WNBA Western Conference All-Star team, but her scoring average, 10.6, had taken a dip from the 11.7 points she'd averaged in 2001. More telling was the shooting percentage, down to .391 from .417.

She moved gingerly around the court Friday, doing some light shooting drills and kibitzing with teammates. There was stiffness in her back and her gait. But that Tamecka Dixon could move around at all Friday was good news for the Sparks. Dixon was unable to play in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals Thursday, won by the Sparks 71-63. She bruised her back and strained the patella tendon in her right knee when she slipped on wet steps while exiting the team bus for the morning shoot-around.

at Detroit, 1 PDT, Channel 7 Site -- The Palace at Auburn Hills. Radio -- KPLS (830). Record vs. Shock (playoffs) -- 1-0. Update -- After scoring only two points in the deciding game of the Western Conference final against Sacramento, Tamecka Dixon rebounded with 15 points against Detroit on Friday. The difference? Dixon was able to wear her contact lens in her injured right eye, and was able to see the basket more clearly. "My confidence was 100% higher on Friday," Dixon said.

Regular season titles don't mean as much as they used to, and rightfully so because usually teams are remembered only for what they do in the playoffs. The Sparks, who beat the San Antonio Silver Stars, 83-70, Saturday night before 10,150 fans at Staples Center, will probably enjoy their 2003 Western Conference regular season title. Not just because it's their fourth in a row, but for everything they had to endure to win it.

SPARKS TODAY vs. San Antonio, 12:30 p.m. Site -- Staples Center. Radio -- KPLS (830). Records -- Sparks 18-5, Silver Stars 7-16. Record vs. Silver Stars -- 1-0. Update -- Lisa Leslie, on the injured list because of a bruised right knee, will sit out at least three more games. Tamecka Dixon, whose left knee is strained, did some light shooting on her own Tuesday, but did not participate in the team's practice drills. That makes her return to the starting lineup today doubtful.

Even though the Sparks are 14-3, the same record they had last year after 17 games, the first half of the 2003 season has been tumultuous for the two-time defending league champions. Mwadi Mabika, a first-team All-WNBA selection last season, has struggled because of injuries. Former top reserve Latasha Byears was waived last month for reasons never fully explained. Coach Michael Cooper says he has a good bench, but still leans heavily on his starters.

Michael Cooper couldn't help but be impressed with his top sharp shooter, but it didn't stop there. "Tamecka Dixon, what a player," the Spark coach said. Dixon had a career-high 28 points and the Sparks defeated Washington, 97-91, Wednesday night as the Mystics tied a franchise record with their 11th consecutive defeat.

A 19-foot jumper by Tamecka Dixon with 18 seconds remaining gave the Sparks the final lead, and the two-time defending WNBA champions went on to beat the San Antonio Silver Stars, 80-77, in an exhibition game Saturday before 3,280 fans at Long Beach State. The Sparks' Lisa Leslie, who played center and small forward, had 25 points and 10 rebounds. The Silver Stars will play their first season in San Antonio after being based in Salt Lake City, where they were the Utah Starzz, since 1997.

The Sparks, behind a 21-point second-half effort by Tamecka Dixon, wiped out an eight-point halftime deficit, led by five twice in the final minutes, then swooned before the Sacramento Monarchs Tuesday night, 73-69. Dixon, the explosive second-year guard from Kansas, was held scoreless in the first half but made her first five shots of the second half to lead the Sparks' comeback. But it wasn't enough as the Sparks were left with a painful loss and ended a three-game road trip at 1-2.

The Sparks, nearly missing an opportunity to move within half a game of Western Conference leader Houston, needed a steady hand by Tamecka Dixon for the second straight night Saturday. She made two free throws with 1.3 seconds remaining, allowing the Sparks to escape with a 58-57 victory over Minnesota before 6,071 at the Great Western Forum.

She moved gingerly around the court Friday, doing some light shooting drills and kibitzing with teammates. There was stiffness in her back and her gait. But that Tamecka Dixon could move around at all Friday was good news for the Sparks. Dixon was unable to play in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals Thursday, won by the Sparks 71-63. She bruised her back and strained the patella tendon in her right knee when she slipped on wet steps while exiting the team bus for the morning shoot-around.

There were times during the regular season that Tamecka Dixon looked as if she wanted to be anywhere but on a basketball court. There were spasms of turnovers and bad shots. She was a non-factor in late-season losses to Seattle and Houston. Coach Michael Cooper put her on the WNBA Western Conference All-Star team, but her scoring average, 10.6, had taken a dip from the 11.7 points she'd averaged in 2001. More telling was the shooting percentage, down to .391 from .417.