Celtics-Cavaliers matchup complicates Candace Parker's fanhood

Beginning today, Sparks forward Candace Parker will put her rooting interests to the test.

The Boston Celtics play the Cleveland Cavaliers today in the first day of the NBA's regular season, a matchup that will feature Parker's husband, Shelden Williams, with Boston against Parker's brother, Anthony Parker, with Cleveland.

Fans and media aren't the only ones wondering which team Parker will favor. Williams often jokes to Candace, "Don't listen to your brother." Candace's family often jokes they'll disown her if she roots for her husband over her brother.

"Honestly, I’m rooting for both of them to do well," Parker said during the WNBA regular season. "I’m a fan of basketball. It’s fun. It’s great to look at our family and know how special we are."

This isn't new for Parker. On her Twitter account, Parker has often explained she roots for the Lakers but ultimately still favors the Chicago Bulls since she grew up in Naperville, Ill.

After Williams joined Boston as a free agent this off-season, Parker recalled fans immediately asking her what she'll do when the Celtics visit the Lakers at Feb. 18 at Staples Center.

"I don’t know," Parker said, laughing."I know I can’t be wearing my Boston green sitting in the stands of L.A."

--Mark Medina

Sparks' GM Penny Toler forsees a long off-season assembling next year's roster

While the Sparks sat at a conference table during the team's exit interviews three weeks ago in El Segundo, players dutifully noted the strong possibility that it may have been the last time they would see some of their teammates. After reflecting on what unanimously had been considered a disappointing 2009 season, Sparks guard Betty Lennox was asked to look ahead to 2010. But she couldn't.

Said Lennox: "I see nothing but fog."

That's because this off-season carries a lot of uncertainty.

The Sparks are currently involved with a coaching search after Michael Cooper left to coach the USC women's basketball program. They also are coping with Lisa Leslie's retirement following a 13-year career in the WNBA that included three league and All-Star MVPS, two league championships and finishing as the league's all-time leader in scoring (6,263 points) and rebounding (3,307).

The Sparks also may have to address other departures.

Despite signing a three-year deal in March, Sparks forward Tina Thompson says she will spend this off-season contemplating whether she has the energy and stamina to play in what would be her 14th season. Sparks guard Kristi Harrower, a free agent, says she also will be weighing her options from October through February while playing and serving as player and general manager for Bendigo Bank Spirit, a professional team in her native country in Australia.

Although Sparks General Manager Penny Toler said Harrower was the team's lone free agent, she said that doesn't mean she wouldn't look to trade other players.

"When you don't win [the championship], all bets are off," Toler said. "You see what becomes available. What you think is a need may not be a need depending on what other players are available."

With the league announcing today that the Detroit Shock will relocate to Tulsa, Okla., Toler forsees possible player movement within the organization. That gives her one more reason to move ahead in what she imagines to be a busy off-season.

Sparks' GM Penny Toler keeping her options open regarding coaching search

With the WNBA season ending only 10 days ago, Sparks General Manager Penny Toler could have taken a vacation during what she called a "quiet period." After all, she had often remarked during the season she couldn't recall the last time she has taken one.

Toler doesn't plan any R & R any time soon, telling The Times this morning she anticipates "an interesting offseason for us."

That's because there are already a bunch of moving parts.

Coach Michael Cooper left the Sparks to coach the USC women's basketball team. Three-time league MVP Lisa Leslie retired after an accomplished 13 years in the league and is already staying busy during post-retirement.

Though she signed a three-year deal in March, Sparks forward Tina Thompson says she wants to assess how she feels physically before committing to what would be her 14th season in the league. Sparks guard Kristi Harrower said the same thing during the team's exit interviews and has recently become the general manager of the Bendigo Bank Spirit, a professional team in Australia where she is also one of the team's guards.

No title but Candace Parker, Lisa Leslie are No. 1 and No. 2 in jersey sales

The Sparks may have lost to the Phoenix Mercury for the Western Conference title, but they are winning when it comes to sales.

For the second consecutive year, Candace Parker, the 2008 WNBA Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year, has the No. 1 selling jersey for the second consecutive year.

Teammate Lisa Leslie, a three-time MVP who made this season her last after 13 years in the league, holds the second spot. Becky Hammon of the San Antonio Silver Stars rounds out the top three for the list.

As for overall merchandise, the Sparks again are the winners, with the New York Liberty and the Seattle Storm coming in at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively.

TOP 10 MOST POPULAR PLAYER JERSEYS:
1.     Candace Parker – Los Angeles Sparks
2.     Lisa Leslie – Los Angeles Sparks
3.     Becky Hammon – San Antonio Silver Stars
4.     Diana Taurasi – Phoenix Mercury
5.     Shameka Christon – New York Liberty
6.     Essence Carson – New York Liberty
7.     Sue Bird – Seattle Storm
8.     Janel McCarville – New York Liberty
9.     Angel McCoughtry – Altanta Dream  
10.     Deanna Nolan – Detroit Shock

TOP 5 MOST POPULAR TEAM MERCHANDISE:
1.     Los Angeles Sparks
2.     New York Liberty
3.     Seattle Storm
4.     San Antonio Silver Stars
5.     Washington Mystics

-- Debbie Goffa

Photo: Lisa Leslie, left, hugs teammate Candace Parker after fouling out in the fourth quarter against the Phoenix Mercury during Game 3 of the WNBA Western Conference finals Saturday. Credit: Aaron J. Latham / Associated Press

Sparks Lisa Leslie, Candace Parker to be named on WNBA's All-Second team

Sparks center Lisa Leslie and forward Candace Parker are expected to be named to the WNBA's All-Second team, an announcement that will be made official today around 1 p.m. PST.

The Sparks, which host the Phoenix Mercury in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals tonight at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion, will face two players who are expected to be named to the league's All-First team, including forward Diana Taurasi and guard Cappie Pondexter. Taurasi was second in the league in scoring (20.4 points per game), and Pondexter wasn't too far behind with a fifth-best 19.1 points per game.

Leslie, a three-time MVP, and Parker, last year's league MVP and rookie of the year, returned to true form after missing a significant number of games.

Leslie missed 11 games because of a sprained right knee but has averaged 15.4 points per game and has been a catalyst for the Sparks' turnaround during her last season in her storied 13-year WNBA career.

Parker missed the team's first eight games while on maternity leave but has since posted a league-leading 15 double doubles, a league-leading 9.8 rebounds per game and 13.1 points per contest.

-- Mark Medina

Photo: Candace Parker tries to prevent an errant pass from going out of bounds during the Sparks' playoff victory over the Seattle Storm on Sunday. Credit: Elaine Thompson / Associated Press

Sparks express indifference about playoff game in UCLA's Pauley Pavilion

With the Sparks hosting Game 1 of the Western Conference finals tonight at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion, guard Noelle Quinn admits she's not exactly a Britney Spears fan.

"Nope," Quinn said, laughing.

That's because a Spears concert Wednesday night at Staples Center is preventing the Sparks from playing their home game there. Quinn, a former UCLA standout, doesn't mind returning to her alma mater. Neither does forward Candace Parker, who also experienced playing at USC's Galen Center for last season's Western Conference finals.

"I’m not worried about it," she said. "We’re stepping on the court to play basketball. I don’t believe in all that other stuff. Go out there and play. The basket is the same height. They’re playing on the same court we are."

Not quite. Parker and Sparks Coach Michael Cooper thought the depth perception makes Pauley Pavilion's court appear smaller than the one at Staples Center. Quinn also noted a difference in the rims.

"It's really bouncy," she said. "If you get the shot up over the rim, you'll get most of them in."

Quinn says she shouldn't have a problem with it, given her experience as a Bruin. But if any of the other Sparks do, Parker says too bad.

"They’re playing on the same court we are," Parker said of Phoenix. "So we can’t make excuses."

-- Mark Medina

Photo: Noelle Quinn. Credit: Lori Shepler / Associated Press

Candace Parker saves her biggest show for off the court

While Sparks forward Candace Parker recounted her ongoing balancing act of being a working mom, she declared her everyday life would be entertaining enough to become a reality show.

It would be called "Three Dogs, a Husband and a Baby" -- "the reality show I live every day," Parker says, a title that sounds like a throwback to "Three Men and a Baby." Parker's night mostly involves her 3-and-a-half month daughter, Lailaa, sleeping on her chest while she watches reruns of "Roseanne," "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and "Sister Sister." And with all that television viewing, Parker has an idea for a pilot.

Parker and her husband, Boston Celtics forward Shelden Williams, often walk their daughter and their three dogs, Fendi (4-year-old St. Bernard mix), Neno (16-year-old black pub) and Prada (1-year-old black roddy). And while it's typical for the dogs to run away during the walks, Parker didn't exactly expect the following to happen: "One time we were driving in the car and Prada just jumps out through the window," Parker recalled, laughing. "Meanwhile, Lailaa's socks fall off and my husband is asking me to do something. That's my life."

Not bad. Two other anecdotes reveal some other potential episodes.

Source: Sparks' Candace Parker absent in tonight's game because of a family-related issue

Sparks forward Candace Parker missed tonight's game because of "personal issues that are family-related," said a source close to the team who wasn't authorized to speak publicly.

Her absence isn't injury-related, and she is expected to practice Friday and play in Sunday's game against the Connecticut Sun, the source said.

-- Mark Medina

Sparks' Candace Parker listed as day to day

Sparks forward Candace Parker, absent from tonight's game against the Phoenix Mercury for what the team called "personal reasons", is day to day, said General Manager Penny Toler. Toler declined to comment further.

-- Mark Medina

Sparks starting lineup includes Betty Lennox and Noelle Quinn

With the absence of Sparks' forward Candace Parker and guard Kristi Harrower in tonight's game against the Phoenix Mercury, Betty Lennox will start at point guard while Noelle Quinn will start at shooting guard.

The rest of the starters include DeLisha Milton-Jones (small forward), Tina Thompson (power forward) and Lisa Leslie (center).

--Mark Medina