LOS ANGELES, CA – While the Los Angeles Sparks struggled on their recent road trip against the Washington Mystics and Minnesota Lynx, they are trying to navigate through the injuries to both Ogwumike sisters.
However, even short-handed, other players are starting to make their presence and voice felt a little more, especially guard Brittney Sykes.
In her second season with the Sparks (4-5), Sykes’ role has changed going from a starter to coming off the bench. Even without starting, Sykes is providing that spark with her infectious energy and intensity, but it goes beyond that.
The 2020 WNBA All-Defensive Second Team member is using her voice more to lead the defense and helping her teammates get in better positions to be successful on that end of the floor.
“I’m definitely eyeballing the defense a little more when it comes to our defensive scheme,” Sykes said recently. “Arella (Guirantes) can tell you I’m usually on her when she’s in the game. In the Chicago game, I was subbing in for her and I told her after the game, ‘Diamond (DeShields) only did a jab step and got past you. I was like ‘you made me mad,’ little things like that, it was just a jab step and it made me mad.”
So far, her vocal leadership appears to be working. Heading into this last road trip, the Sparks were tied for first in the WNBA in defensive rating (93.1 points per 100 possessions) and led the league in forcing opponents’ turnovers (21.3 per game).
Sykes has her own ambitions to being on an All-Defensive First Team or even win Defensive Player of the Year, an honor her former teammate Candace Parker won a year ago.
“(DPOY), I’m hell-bent on getting that,” Sykes said. “I think I kind of just worked my way into that leader, that defensive head of the snake. I don’t think it’s just me. It takes more than just me. In order for me to be who I am on the floor, it’s because of the four behind me. I can only move the way I move, because I trust my teammates.”
Her defensive prowess is not overlooked by head coach and GM Derek Fisher who finds Sykes’ leadership on that end similar to a key player he won three championships with during his playing days with the Los Angeles Lakers.
“I think Brittney has challenged herself this year to be an elite defensive player,” Fisher said. “Her defensive intensity and energy changes things for us on the court. I think about guys like Rick Fox, who always was willing to take on the challenge to guard the other team’s best perimeter players, sticking his chin in there, diving for loose balls, just being an irritant and a guy that people couldn’t get comfortable playing against.”
(Video Courtesy of Mista Midwest)
“Great teams have players that are willing to be that, and Brittney is one of our leaders in that regard,” Fisher continued.
Sykes’ defense, energy, and vocal leadership will continue to be a major X-factor in this transitional season for the Sparks. Not only will it provide team success but also helping the young players improve on that end of the floor and holding them accountable.
