Sparks hope their turnaround begins in Dallas

The Sparks have lost 10 of their last 11 games, but the Wings are one of four teams they’ve beaten this season.

The Sparks believe better energy and effort will go a long way toward victory in a sold-out, nationally televised matchup Saturday afternoon in Dallas.

The Wings are one of four teams the Sparks have beaten this season.

The Sparks (5-17) are 1-1 against Dallas (5-18). In their most recent matchup on June 7, the Sparks defeated the short-handed Wings, 81-72, behind a 22-point, 12-rebound performance from All-Star forward Dearica Hamby. Wings All-Star guard Arike Ogunbowale matched Hamby’s scoring effort in that game but shot just 10 for 28 from the field (35.7%).

Ogunbowale has averaged 22.6 points per game, third in the league behind Las Vegas center A’ja Wilson (26.9) and Phoenix guard Kahleah Copper (23.0). One of the league’s best pure scorers, Ogunbowale is coming off a career-high 13 assists in the Wings’ 100-84 road loss to the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday.

The Sparks are coming off a 1-3 homestand at Crypto.com Arena, including an 82-67 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday night. They have lost 10 of their last 11 games, with their lone victory coming in a 98-93 upset in overtime against two-time defending champion Las Vegas.

Hamby has anchored the team and emerged as the team’s go-to player. The three-time All-Star has averaged a team-high 19 points and 10.3 rebounds for a Sparks squad with the second-lowest average in the league at 78.4 points per game.

Sparks coach Curt Miller has consistently said he does not want to coach his team’s effort and energy, a message he echoed before and after Tuesday’s 15-point thrashing, in which the team trailed by as many as 25 points in the second half.

Neither team will be at full strength Saturday. The Sparks have been without Cameron Brink (torn ACL) and Lexie Brown (Crohn’s disease) and Dallas has been missing Satou Sabally (shoulder) and Maddy Siegrist (broken finger).

Since the last matchup, the Wings added forward Natasha Howard. The two-time All-Star and 2019 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year dropped a career-high 36 points on July 3 and is currently averaging 16.8 points and 6.8 rebounds.

The Sparks will finish the first half of the season on Tuesday with a home game against the Seattle Storm and the return of longtime Sparks star Nneka Ogwumike, before the league’s monthlong All-Star and Olympic break.

SPARKS (5-17) AT DALLAS (5-18)

When: Saturday, 12:30 p.m.

Where: College Park Arena, Arlington, Texas

TV: CBS (Ch. 2)