SPARKS TONIGHT

at Charlotte, 5 PDT, ESPN

Site--Charlotte Coliseum.

Radio--KPLS (830).

Records--Sparks 3-0, Sting 0-0.

Record vs. Sting (2001)--1-0.

Update--For the third time in their four-game trip, the Sparks will be a season-opening opponent. Charlotte’s last game was a 57-44 exhibition victory over Detroit 12 days ago. The Sting and Sparks are meeting for the first time since last year’s WNBA finals, when Los Angeles defeated Charlotte, two games to none, to win the championship. Veteran guard Dawn Staley, plagued by bad knees during the preseason, will be available for the Sting tonight. The game is a homecoming for Spark rookie guard Nikki Teasley, who played at North Carolina and is the school’s all-time assist leader. Los Angeles is coming off a ragged 69-65 victory over Miami on Thursday, led by Mwadi Mabika’s 17 points. The Sparks hold a 10-4 lifetime edge over Charlotte, winning the last nine in a row.