Syracuse in the WNBA: Brittney Sykes, L.A. Sparks pick up two wins during week

Brittney Sykes, the only Syracuse Orange representative in the WNBA this season, helped lead the Los Angeles Sparks (4-3) to two wins in three games last week. Sykes, a 2017 SU graduate, tallied 15 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and three steals off the bench in the three contests.

On Tuesday, Los Angeles fell on the road to the Dallas Wings (2-5), 79-69. Sykes recorded six points, four rebounds, an assist, and a block in the loss.

As a team, LA shot 37.5% from the field and 33.3% from three. The team was outrebounded by Dallas, 41-24. Four Sparks players scored in double figures, including Kristi Toliver (14 points), Te’a Cooper (12), Nneka Ogwumike (10), and Amanda Zahui B (10).

Dallas shot 39.4% from the floor and 35.7% from three. Five Wings players scored in double figures, including former Notre Dame stars Arike Ogunbowale (14 points) and Marina Mabrey (10) as well as Tyasha Harris (18), Kayla Thornton (15), and Moriah Jefferson (10).

On Thursday, the Sparks dominated the Indiana Fever (1-9) at home and accomplished the second-largest margin of victory in franchise history, 98-63. Sykes contributed eight points, six rebounds, three steals, and two assists in the win.

The team shot a season-high 56.1% from the field and 50% from three. Five LA players scored in double figures, including Toliver (22 points), Cooper (15), Bria Holmes (14), Erica Wheeler (14), and Nia Coffey (13).

The Fever shot 34.3% from the field and 30% from three. Three Fever players tallied double figure scoring, including Kelsey Mitchell (15 points), Jantel Lavender (10), and Tiffany Mitchell (10).

In their final game of the week on Saturday, the Sparks successfully completed the season sweep of the Chicago Sky (2-7) with a 68-63 home win. Sykes tallied one point, four rebounds, and two assists in the victory.

The team shot 36.8% from the field and 15.8% from three. Four Sparks scored 10+ points, including Wheeler (22 points), Coffey (10), Zahui B. (13), and Cooper (13).

Chicago shot 33.9% from the field and 27.8% from three. The Sky had three players in double figures, including Kahleah Copper (15 points), Ruthy Hebard (14), and Diamond DeShields (10).

Los Angeles currently stands in sixth place of the league standings. They have played five games in the last nine days, winning four of those matchups. Prior to that stretch, the Sparks started the season 0-2. Head coach Derek Fisher has turned his team around and back into contention, but there are still 27 more games left on the schedule. The team will be without sisters Nneka Ogwumike and Chiney Ogwumike for the foreseeable future due to knee injuries. Therefore, players like Sykes will have to help carry the extra weight to keep LA on its win streak and above .500.

The Sparks are back on the road this week and will take on the Washington Mystics (2-5) on Thursday, June 10 and then the Minnesota Lynx (2-4) on Saturday, June 12.