DALLAS, TX – It was late in the fourth quarter, the Los Angeles Sparks were already well-behind the Dallas Wings and forward Bria Holmes had an uncontested drive to the hoop and surprisingly missed.
She briefly paused, put her hands in the air, and shook her head in disappointment. A few plays later, Holmes missed a three-pointer from the top of the key so badly that it actually banked in. It was that kind of shooting night for Holmes in a season that has started as an offensive struggle.
However, the first-year Spark is trying to stay positive amidst those woes, which includes shooting just 11 percent from the floor.
“Take it day-by-day, game-by-game,” Holmes said before L.A. faced the Wings. “I know what I’m capable of doing, what I’ve been doing to stay in this league so I know it will come. I haven’t played since September in a real game so I’m trying to get my legs and feet up under me and keep building confidence.”
While the shooting and scoring may not be reflective on the stat sheet for Holmes, her teammates are recognizing the other intangibles she’s bringing to the table.
“She brings the energy and she does all the other small things,” center Amanda Zahui B. said. “Sometimes you might not be scoring all the points, but you’re doing all the things that don’t show up on paper and that’s why Bria is so important to this team. She’s doing all the small things that don’t show up on stats so we appreciate her for that.”
Head coach Derek Fisher commented about the defensive energy that Holmes is always playing with.
“Bria’s identity is about defensive intensity and energy and her length and size causes problems for people,” Fisher said. “A lot of times she’s right in the middle of some of the turnovers, and some of the situations that are being created out there. She’s been solid, and she’s not the only one who hasn’t been able to find a basket at times. She’s going to keep working at it, just like the rest of us will.”
Veteran guard Kristi Toliver also spoke about the impact Holmes has brought to the team.
“I like Bria’s game a lot,” Toliver said. “She’s really long, she’s really athletic. She can get to the paint, she can shoot the three. Defensively, she can guard one through four or five depending on who’s out there. She makes it difficult on both ends for the opponent.”
While Holmes may be struggling to find her offensive groove with her new team, she’s not letting it affect the other aspects of her game like defense and energy.
With rookie Jasmine Walker out for the season and the team dealing with other injuries, Holmes will have plenty of opportunities to bust through this early season shooting slump and make a bigger impact for the Sparks.
