The Sparks (4-5) host the Wings (6-3) Friday night at 7 p.m. at Crypto.com Arena. This matchup marks the second game of the Sparks’ four-game homestand, the hosts most recently falling, 79-69, to the Aces. The Wings arrive in Los Angeles winners of their last three games and tied for the third-best winning percentage in the league.  

Wings Players to Watch: 

Jessica Shepard is enjoying a career season, posting 12.6 points per game on 55.4% from the field, 11.0 rebounds per game (second best in the WNBA) and 5.9 assists per contest (ninth). The veteran is the only WNBA player to post a triple-double this season and has two of them. Shepard is the 22nd player in WNBA history to have 20 points and 20 rebounds in a single game and the first ever to have a triple-double with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds. 

Paige Bueckers, the reigning Rookie of the Year, averages 18.3 points (11th in the W) on 49.2% from the field and 42.5% from three-point territory, with 5.3 assists per game (10th). The former first pick set her career high in points last season against the Sparks with 44 points (17-for-21 3PT, 4-for-4 3PT, 6-for-6 FT).  

Bueckers’ backcourt mate Azzi Fudd is averaging 12.1 points, 1.1 steals and 1.0 blocks per game this season on 57.1% shooting from the field and 43.8% from three-point range. The first pick of this year's draft has the third-highest box plus/minus this season at +84.  

Top 15 Sparks Player Rankings (through June 3 games): 

Ariel Atkins – 4th n SPG (2.0) 

Cameron Brink – 5th in BPG (1.6), 15th in FG% (53.7%) 

Dearica Hamby – 11th in RPG (7.7), 14th in SPG (1.3)  

Nneka Ogwumike – 6th in 3PT% (50.0%), 14th in RPG (7.4) 

Kelsey Plum – 1st in PPG (26.8) , 6th in APG (6.3), 7th in FG% (58.9%), 9th in 3PT% (48.8%) 

Erica Wheeler – 13th in APG (4.9) 

Team Rankings:  

Los Angeles is a top offensive team this season, ranking third in team field goal percentage at 47.0% and fifth in points per game with 87.9. Dallas stands first in assists per game with 22.9 and is tied for the fewest turnovers per game.  

Head-to-Head: 

The Sparks have won 51 of 83 (61.4%) meetings between these franchises and swept last season’s four-game series, with Plum hitting a game-winning buzzer-beater Aug. 20 in Los Angeles.  

Commissioner's Cup: 

Friday’s game will mark the Sparks’ second of their seven Commissioner’s Cup games this season. The organization is playing to benefit Brotherhood Crusade, raising $3,000 for the cause with each win and $1,000 with each loss.