MERCURY

Phoenix Mercury hit road to face improving Los Angeles Sparks

Tyler Killian
azcentral sports
The Phoenix Mercury's DeWanna Bonner works against the San Antonio Stars' Kayla McBride during the first half on Tuesday, June 30. 2015, in Phoenix.

Mercury (5-5) at Los Angeles Sparks (2-7)

When: 2 p.m. Sunday

Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles.

Mercury update: Phoenix cruised Thursday against the Tulsa Shock, winning 86-55 to give the Mercury back-to-back victories for the first time this season. F Candice Dupree scored 16 points and C Brittney Griner blocked seven shots, a league high thus far in 2015. ... G/F DeWanna Bonner is third in the WNBA in scoring at 18 points per game, and has recorded at least 21 points and six rebounds in five of the Mercury's 10 contests. ... Phoenix is shooting 57.5 percent from the field in its last two games after shooting 37.4 percent through its first eight. ... G Marta Xargay has joined the team after finishing up EuroBasket competition with her native Spain. To make room on the 12-player roster, the Mercury waived G Tess Madgen.

Sparks update: After dropping their first seven games of the season, the Sparks have won two in a row, including a wild 98-95 victory over the Shock on Friday that featured 14 lead changes and 13 ties. ... G Kristi Toliver scored a career-high 43 points against the Shock, breaking Lisa Leslie's franchise record of 41. ... Brian Agler is in his first season as head coach after spending the last seven years with the Seattle Storm. ... G Erin Phillips, who won a WNBA championship last season with the Mercury, is averaging 7.4 points and 4.2 assists. ... Two-time MVP Candace Parker has sat out the Sparks' first nine games for rest and has given no timetable for her return. ... The Mercury won all five regular-season matchups between the teams last season, and also swept the Sparks in two games in the Western Conference semifinals.