Rickea Jackson suffers an injury to the defeat of Sparks against Minnesota Luchs

You only get one shot at a first impression and for the Sparks, led by a trainer in the first year and a new superstar, was the first insight into the implemented squad in the crypto.com arena.

With high levels, including a return to the playoffs, the sparks stood in front of an early litmus test in the Minnesota Lynx-a few years old and the second place of last year's WNBA second place, led by one of the elite talents of the league in Napheesa Collier.

The sparks showed that they are clearly able to fight with an energetic and coherent game for a playoff place, but their 89-75 defeat against Minnesota also showed that they are still behind the elite teams of the league.

“We looked visibly frustrated, and not only that they are not helped as a player, but the other, believe me, they also noticed that,” said Sparks coach Lynne Roberts about the goal of their team. “When you play a team at championship level and see you frustration, see some cracks, you will step on your neck.”

In the first half, the Sparks (1-1) went with the lynx from Toe-to-toe. The half-time remained 46-45, an encouraging start for a team who learned under new leadership while returning to a katt-tested opponent compared to the final of the last year with five starters.

Dearica Hamby directed the indictment in the offensive glass and tirelessly converted to the free wire line. She led the sparks with 20 points and 10 rebounds for her second double double in a row.

Azurá Stevens was intact at the catch and shooting look and let it fly confidently on the way to a team high of 21 points. Rickea Jackson added a physical presence, attacked defenders and established himself on track.

But after a difficult third quarter, the gap between the teams became obvious. Roberts referred to the need for the Sparks after leadership and discipline of the Sparks – qualities that faded in favor of the game.

“You did an 8-0 run … that suddenly went to 12,” said Roberts. “We have to get better as a group and only have this mentality of the next game. No matter whether I miss if I get fouled and you do not call it, call it to me.”

At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the sparks were eight. They achieved a short comeback that was triggered by a Kelsey Plum Steal, which led to a transition layup and made the deficit to 80-75. This was followed by a coarse -grained defense status, with the rookie Sarah Ashlee Barker and Collier slapped on the deck for a loose ball and set up a further possession of the spark.

“We have just become really ignorant,” said Roberts. “Minnesota reinforced her pressure. … We just couldn't come up with the collective chemistry to tackle.”

Stevens, the leading goal scorer of the team with 21 points, presented the skills on which she worked in the low season, in particular her improved three -point shots. She scored 12 of the team's first 17 points and made her first trio of three -point attempts to give La an early lead.

“Our guards arrived very aggressively, and then and then have [the Lynx] A sucking sucked every time, ”said Stevens.

Stevens drew the hard task of Collier to contain a Matchup album for the entire Sparks unit. Collier held a 34-point excursion on Friday on Friday, which made a record for a season start.

Injuries were still a problem for the sparks. Rickea Jackson made a blow in his mouth while he scored a rebound in the third quarter and watched the rest of the game from the bank. The sparks had no update to Jackson's status after the game.

She is the second Sparks starter, who was injured in so many games – Rae Burrell is expected to be missed six to eight weeks after a knee injury to the Valkyries Golden State. The sparks are only due to four healthy guards.

Julie Allemand's return from a knee injury cannot come early enough, and the sparks are still facing a potential months of waiting for Cameron Brink to return from a torn front cruciate ligament.

“We have to get well,” said Roberts. “We don't have much depth there. There is not much. It's not as if I decided not to play Rickea in fourth. She was hurt. I would like to use Rae, but she is on crutches.”

The sparks did not lean strongly on plum after playing 40 minutes on Friday – a workload entitled “Untaining”.

To lighten the cargo, Roberts turned to Barker for critical minutes. She registered 24 minutes and in her first game in the Crypto.com Arena scored six points-one milestone for the self-proclaimed student “Mamba Mentality”.

It brought intensity to the boards, tore away the ball from Collier and even hit a block in the color.

“We are a bit thin in the waking limit, but [Barker] Has done a good job, “said Roberts from The Sparks of the first round of the Draft-Pick.” She is just fearless. And it also does what is required for running a game. … she crashes the boards, she plays hard defensively. “

The sparks will play in the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday.

“We are two games in,” said Roberts. “I am not stressed out like” Oh my god, the sky falls, “but we have to get tougher. If we don't get harder, it becomes more worrying.”