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Holdsclaw ignites Sparks in blowout win

May 23, 2007 - 2:38 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Some teams would fold knowing they were losing a three-time MVP. However, most teams are not the Los Angeles Sparks.

Chamique Holdsclaw had 15 points and eight rebounds as the Sparks coasted to 72-56 victory over the Chicago Sky.

Los Angeles opened a season for the first time in their 11-year existence without center Lisa Leslie, who is expecting her first child in June and is out indefinitely.

Holdsclaw, who is a WNBA All-Decade Honorable Mention player herself, helped distance the Sparks from the Sky early in the first quarter as she scored eight points to key a game-opening 21-9 run.

After Chicago had narrowed the deficit to eight by halftime, Sidney Spencer scored five points during a 27-6 run by Los Angeles over the first 11:47 of the second half. The Sparks led by as many as 27 points early in the fourth quarter during the spurt, which was capped off by a 3-pointer from Mwadi Mabika.

Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Mabika and Spencer each had nine points for the Sparks, who had 10 players score.

Stacey Dales and Dominique Canty each scored 14 for the Sky, who have only won five of the 36 games since their debut last season.