Liberty Set to Face Sparks in Los Angeles

The Liberty are gearing up to take on one of the league’s most formidable teams, the Sparks, in Los Angeles on Tuesday. This marks their only visit to the city this season.

It’s been more than two weeks since these two teams last squared off at the Barclays Center, and, well, they seem to be heading in opposite directions.

Liberty (20-11) finds themselves grappling with injuries and exhaustion, while the Sparks (15-16) are on a roll.

Los Angeles has been impressive lately, posting a record of 9-2 in their last 11 games, which includes wins over the Liberty, Storm, and Fever. Just last Sunday, they edged past Seattle for the second time in ten days, with Diaika Humvee scoring a crucial layup.

The Sparks have hit the 90-point mark in nine of their last 11 games, and astonishingly, scored over 100 points five times. Since mid-July, they’ve had the third-best offensive rating at 110.8, trailing only the Lynx and Dream.

Recently, they welcomed back Cameron Brink, who had been sidelined for over a year due to an ACL injury to her left knee. Her return has provided a much-needed defensive boost, exemplified by her 13 blocks in just six games.

On the flip side, the Liberty seem to be struggling to keep their momentum going.

Kennedy Burke (calf tension) and Breanna Stewart (knee bone bruise) have remained out of action since their last game against the Sparks on July 26. Adding to their woes, Nyara Savaly has also been battling knee problems throughout the season.

The Liberty have faced some tough defeats lately, including a recent loss to Brooklyn’s Lynx, which certainly didn’t help their spirits.

“You really can’t let a loss weigh you down too much,” Liberty forward Emma Meesman commented. “I think it’s important to learn from it, review the footage, and focus on what’s next.”

Tuesday’s game is crucial for the Liberty, as they will also play against the Ace in Las Vegas the following day.