LOS ANGELES -- The Sparks (7-27) are out of the playoff hunt but there are still games to be played.
Sparks head coach Curt Miller will continue to coach and help improve the Sparks in the remaining six games of the season.
"We're just gonna keep exploring," Miller said. "Giving people looks that give us the best chance to win. You've gotta play people that continue to earn minutes."
Miller will continue to explore his line-ups against a team he is very familiar with for the next two games as the Sparks take on the visiting Connecticut Sun (24-10).
The last time these two teams faced each other was on Aug. 20th in front of 19,000 people at TD Garden in Boston. It was a bruising physical game that saw the Sparks keep up with the Sun until the end. It was one of the better defensive games by the Sparks even if they didn’t come out with the win.
"We didn't want to get bullied tonight, right?" Miller said after the tough loss. "We didn't want to back down."
They're gonna need the same defensive effort against the Sun, who have lost their last two games, if they want to play spoiler. The fiery Miller also happened to be ejected at the end of that game.
"I'm always going to fight for my players," Miller mused. "Thought some things went the other way tonight. They want me to fight for them. They saw me fight for them. It was great. We're really excited. They appreciate it. And I appreciate how hard they fought all night."
That fire is what's needed against players like Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, Marina Mabrey, and DiJonai Carrington. On the Sparks' side, Rickea Jackson continues to be big in the first half. She slows down offensively in the second half as teams focus on her so the Sparks will have to find a way to keep her involved. Dearica Hamby always finds a way to stay involved while back-up center Li Yueru's physical presence always seems to bother the Sun.
The Sparks may not be in the playoff hunt anymore but they still have their pride. They hope to finish the season strong beginning with two games against the Sun at Crypto.Com Arena.