Sparks Setback vs. Mercury Highlights Both Frustration and Progress

LA Sparks Rae Burrell attempts a shot over the Phoenix Mercury at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday night

The Los Angeles Sparks entered the 2025 season with one objective — making the playoffs. While that goal is still within reach, Tuesday's 92-84 loss to the Phoenix Mercury makes the path far more difficult.

In a tightly contested game, intensity and emotions escalated in the second half. Both teams ramped up the defensive pressure, but the Mercury had no answer for Rickea Jackson, who dropped 21 points, including a late bucket with seconds left in the third quarter.

Sparks fans fell silent after Jackson lay on the floor for several minutes after Satu Sabally committed a transition foul. Eventually, Jackson limped off the court under her own power and headed to the locker room. She ultimately returned to the floor but was visibly laboring and will be evaluated before the Sparks face the Indiana Fever on Friday. 

The officials had a storyline all their own — failing to make obvious calls against the Mercury. DeWanna Bonner even shared a laugh with her fiancée, Alyssa Thomas, after getting away with a clear travel. To make matters worse for the Sparks, Phoenix won all four of its challenges — underscoring the one-sided feel of the officiating.

"It is what it is," Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts said. "If it's called like that, then we've got to adjust. I'm not going to ever sit up here and blame something that's out of our control."

The Sparks will now look ahead to another home game — this time against the Fever, who are coming off a 20-point win over the Seattle Storm, without their star player, Caitlin Clark, who is likely out for the season. After that, they face the Washington Mystics — also in the playoff hunt — and the Seattle Storm, a team desperately fighting to hold on to the eighth and final playoff spot. 

“We gotta just muscle up and be mentally tough to handle it,” Roberts reminded the team.

If the Sparks fail to make the playoffs, will they see this season as a success? Unlikely. But the truth is, the last time the Sparks won 17 games was in 2022. If they can win just one of their next eight games, they'll have their most successful season in three years and prove they are moving in the right direction.

The playoffs would be icing on their most improved season.