Gene Warnick: June 2009 Archives
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Tina Thompson had 18 points, Betty Lennox added 17
points and 10 rebounds and the Sparks easily defeated the defending WNBA
champion Detroit Shock 78-58 on Saturday in the season opener.
Lisa Leslie had an off-game for the Sparks, scoring just six points.
The Sparks now have the top two scorers in WNBA history in Lisa Leslie and Tina Thompson, Leslie's former Olympic, college (USC) and high school (Morningside of Inglewood) teammate.
Leslie was happy the Sparks acquired Thompson in the offseason.
"I love it," Leslie, who won Olympic gold medals with Thompson in 2004 and 2008, told the AP. "I think I'm a great person to follow and I think she's a good person to have following me. She's a great teammate and we have great chemistry. For me, it was a no-brainer."
Thompson, who averaged 18.1 points and 6.9 rebounds last season, was available after the Houston Comets folded. She mulled retirement, but didn't want to leave the game yet. She said yes to the Sparks partly because of the attraction of playing with Leslie again, and to be closer to her mother who lives in the L.A. area.
"We played with each other for a long time so it takes a matter of minutes for us to get
back together," she said. "It's not hard for us to get going. I know which way she's going
to turn in certain situations and where she likes the ball so it's not something I have to
figure out. It goes without saying."
From the AP ...
LOS ANGELES SPARKS
2008: 20-14, 3rd, lost to San Antonio 2-1 in conference finals.
COACH: Michael Cooper, 8th season, 146-69.
KEY ADDITIONS: F Tina Thompson (free agent, Houston); G Noelle Quinn (trade, Minnesota); F-C Vanessa Hayden (trade, Minnesota); G Betty Lennox
KEY LOSSES: F Christi Thomas (trade, Minnesota); F Sidney Spencer (trade, New York); F Raffaella Masciadri (trade, Minnesota); G Temeka Johnson (trade, Phoenix); F Murriel Page (waived); C Jessica Moore (waived).
STRENGTHS: Frontcourt, experience. Having three Olympians -- Lisa Leslie, Candace Parker and DeLisha Milton-Jones -- wasn't enough for the Sparks last season. So, Los Angeles made the biggest moves of the offseason, signing Thompson -- another Olympian -- to try to help get Leslie another championship in her farewell season. Hayden could also see significant minutes, especially while Parker is recovering after giving birth to a daughter last month. The backcourt was a weakness last year, but the Sparks are vastly improved there with the additions of Lennox
WEAKNESS: Chemistry. Last year's struggles exposed the Sparks' weaknesses despite
expectations of greatness. The only questions will center on how quickly the team jells,
and whether Parker's return will disrupt the chemistry they develop in her absence. Cooper believes the delayed start to training camp will be a big bonus for his team because it allowed for three solid weeks with everyone -- except for Parker -- to get on the same page.
From the AP ...
The Sparks are joining the Phoenix Mercury as WNBA
teams putting a sponsor's name on their jerseys.
Under the multiyear deal with Farmers Insurance Group announced on Friday, the Sparks will feature the company's name and logo on the front of their jerseys and warmups. The company's name and logo will also have major visibility in Staples Center during home games.
The Phoenix Mercury have a three-year deal with LifeLock, an identity theft protection
company whose name will replace the team's full name on home and road uniforms. The team's logo will appear above the LifeLock on the left side.
The Sparks will wear the newly branded jerseys for the first time in their season opener
against defending WNBA champion Detroit today.
Farmers Insurance executive vice president Kevin Kelso said sponsoring the Sparks will
help the company better reach the women's market.
The company will be involved in the team's new initiative of helping fight childhood
obesity and a league-wide platform to celebrate the achievements of women.
From the WNBA ...
Sparks forward Candace Parker, the 2008 MVP and Rookie of the Year, tops this year's list of WNBA most popular jerseys, based on sales at the NBA Store in New York City and WNBAStore.com from October 2008 through April 2009. Parker's No.3 jersey has sold more than any other rookie in WNBA history. As Parker heads into her second season that tips-off today, sales of her jersey have increased more than 100 percent over last year.
WNBA All-Star guard Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury moves up from No. 6 to the No. 2 spot. Detroit Shock guard Deanna Nolan makes her debut rounding out the list at No. 10.
Sales of jerseys on WNBAStore.com have more than doubled versus last year, and WNBA merchandise is up 25 percent versus last year based on combined sales from the NBA Store and WNBAStore.com. adidas is entering its fourth season as the official on-court uniform and apparel provider for the WNBA.
TOP 10 MOST POPULAR PLAYER JERSEYS:
1. Candace Parker - Sparks
2. Diana Taurasi - Phoenix Mercury
3. Lisa Leslie - Sparks
4. Sue Bird - Seattle Storm
5. Becky Hammon - San Antonio Silver Stars
6. Sheryl Swoopes - Seattle Storm
7. Shameka Christon - New York Liberty
8. Janel McCarville - New York Liberty
9. Candice Wiggins - Minnesota Lynx
10. Deanna Nolan - Detroit Shock
TOP 5 MOST POPULAR TEAM MERCHANDISE:
1. Sparks
2. Detroit Shock
3. New York Liberty
4. Seattle Storm
5. San Antonio Silver Stars
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