With two weeks left in the WNBA regular season, the Los Angeles Sparks stand 1 1/2 games behind Seattle for the last of eight playoff spots.

But to use an old hockey term, Los Angeles has one major advantage: Games in hand.

The Sparks have eight games left, three more than the Storm. And the first of those is at home Friday night against the Indiana Fever.

The Sparks (17-19) are coming off a 92-84 loss Tuesday night to Phoenix, which led by as many as 16 points in the fourth quarter. Three-point defense was a major problem as the Mercury hit 11 of 25 while Los Angeles made only 7 of 24.

"That's where the difference in the game is," Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said. "We typically shoot it better. We're scrapping for our lives ... we're all playing for something."

To reach the postseason

See Full Page