The Seattle Storm have been playing much better recently, but a road game against the Los Angeles Sparks could be the real test of how much they've improved.
The road-weary Storm will try to avoid a fourth loss to the Sparks in as many games this season, and fifth straight in the series, as Los Angeles looks to move to 8-1 at home Saturday night.
Seattle (7-8) has won six of seven, defeating Connecticut 89-83 in overtime Sunday. It was the Storm's league high-tying 10th away game and eighth in their last 11 contests.
After losing at New York the night before, Seattle (7-8) bounced back behind Camille Little, who scored five of her career-high 27 points in OT, and Tina Thompson, who added 20 points, seven rebounds and four blocks.
"Earlier in the year, we were trying to come together and we were 1-7 and it was hard," coach Brian Agler said. "Then we started playing better. We have a lot of championship players in there and they are used to playing like that."
After averaging 64.9 points and shooting 38.3 percent in its first eight games, Seattle has put up 76.0 points and shot 46.6 percent over the last seven. Sue Bird has scored in double figures in six of her last seven contests after doing so in three of the first eight.
Following the win over the Eastern Conference leaders, the Storm will turn their attention back to beating opponents from their own conference. They are 4-6 against West teams, with half of the losses coming against Los Angeles.
Making matters worse, Seattle could be without starting center Ann Wauters for a second straight game. She's averaging 10.3 points and a team-high 6.2 rebounds.
The Sparks are trying to get back on track after a poor end to June, though they ended a three-game losing streak with a 96-90 win over WNBA-leading Minnesota on Thursday.
Kristi Toliver, who didn't attempt a field goal the previous game, scored 29 points while Candace Parker added 28 and 13 rebounds.
''It's completely crazy that I didn't even shoot the ball that last game,'' said Toliver, who went 6 of 6 from 3-point range Thursday. "That's not who I am. That's not who I want to be. Today I just kind of shifted that and showed everybody that this is who I am and this is what I do. I'm back on track."
Toliver has had three good games against Seattle this year, averaging 22.0 points while going 11 of 17 from beyond the arc.
Los Angeles bounced back from a 20-point loss to San Antonio in its previous home game June 24 to improve to 7-1 at Staples Center.
The Sparks have won four straight at home over Seattle, taking the most recent meeting 67-65 on June 3.
