Despite a new role, Los Angeles forward Chamique Holdsclaw is putting up big numbers and is a big reason why the Sparks enter tonight’s meeting against the Mystics at Verizon Center with the WNBA’s best record.
For the first time in her eight-year career, Holdclaw, a six-time All-Star and former Mystic, is not a starter. She was removed from the starting lineup after she missed L.A.’s first six games to tend to sick relatives. She returned to a team that gelled in her absence.
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“Having her come off the bench was never a disciplinary thing,” Sparks Coach Joe Bryant said. “But at the same time, I didn’t feel right just inserting her in the starting lineup immediately. So I let her come back as a reserve to let her get into game shape with the intention that she could start again. But she was so successful in that role, and we were successful as a team, that we decided to stick with that lineup.”
Despite being the Sparks’ first option off the bench, Holdsclaw is playing starter’s minutes (29.9 per game) and scoring 15.4 points per game, both good for second on the team behind perennial All-Star Lisa Leslie.
“Coach Bryant compared our team to the Lakers of the early 1980s where you had big-name players in Magic [Johnson] and Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar], but what really made those teams successful were all of the other players who knew what their roles were and contributed to the team in different ways,” Holdsclaw said. “I know that I may not be starting like I used to, but I can still do as much as I can to help us win a championship.”
The Sparks havealready clinched the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The Mystics clinched a playoff berth Sunday with a win over Charlotte and sit 2 1/2 games behind Indiana for the third seed in the Eastern Conference.
Los Angeles Sparks (23-6) AT Washington Mystics (15-13)
» Where: Verizon Center
» When: Tonight, 7
» Radio: WWRC–1260
