Culver City Observer -

The Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA are moving in the right direction right now. They are currently riding a six-game winning streak and the six new players they signed in the off season are starting to make a difference.

The 10-3 Sparks play their next home game on Sunday, July 2 against the Washington Mystics at 2 p.m. at Staples Center. The Sparks are led by Alana Beard, Chelsea Gray, Jantel Lavender, Nneka Ogwumike, Candace Parker, Odyssey Sims and Riquna Williams.

Several of the new players have made a big difference for the defending WNBA champions but Sims and Williams have really made a huge impact. Both players are guards and that takes a lot of pressure off the starting guards, Beard and Gray.

When the Sparks battle Washington on Sunday they will be facing their former teammate, Kristi Toliver and one of the best players in the WNBA, Elena Della Donne. Toliver is averaging 10.7 points per game and Della Donne is averaging 19.8. The 6-5, 188 pound Della Donne is also averaging 6.7 rebounds per game for the Eastern Conference leading Mystics.

The Sparks need to continue to improve if they expect to win another championship in 2017. Right now the Minnesota Lynx, the team the Sparks beat for the championship last season appears to be the team to beat in the WNBA this season. The Lynx are currently 11-1.