Are the Sparks ready for the playoffs?

Steve Finley
Photo by george Laase. HEADS UP—Nneka Ogwumike has turned into a super star this season. The second year player from Stanford goes to work inside against the Connecticut Sun at a recent game at the Staples Center.

The Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA are playing the best bas- ketball of the season after winning their third game in a row last Tues- day with a 71-63 victory against Minnesota on the road. That victory was probably the most important win of the season for the Sparks because they will face Minnesota in the first round of the playoffs. That was also the first win in Minnesota in four years.

Guard Kristi Toliver led the Sparks with 29 points after Nneka Ogwumike hurt her ankle in the first half. “That’s why I call Kristi the ‘Ice Princess’ because she has so much confidence in her shot,” said Sparks coach Penny Toler.

The Sparks will host Seattle Friday at the Staples Center at 7:30 p.m. for their final home game of the season. The Sparks, who are 16-16, will travel to first place Phoenix on Saturday for the last game of the regular season.

In other pro sports the West Division first place Dodgers return home from their nine-game, road trip to face central division first place Milwaukee for a three-game series starting Friday through Sunday. Tuesday through Thurs- day they will play the red-hot San Diego Padres and Friday through Sunday, Aug. 22, 23 and 24 they battle the New York Mets.

The Venice Beach Basketball League will play their champion- ship game Sunday. The day will begin with youth games at 9 a.m. The Battle of the Legends game will start at Noon and the Women’s Bikini game will begin at 1 p.m. The Venice Beach Championship game will start at 2 p.m. There will also be a Celebrity game at 4 p.m. and a slam-dunk contest at 5 p.m.