Is Candace Parker The Spark Los Angeles Needs?

The Los Angeles Sparks players hoped this would happen, yet they didn't want to assume it was a given or dwell on it. But now it really is time for Candace Parker to return to the Sparks after she sat out the first part of the season recovering and resting from overseas play.

She's scheduled to be in action Wednesday at Minnesota, which just obtained center Sylvia Fowles in a three-way trade with Chicago and Atlanta. The Sparks versus the Lynx typically is an interesting matchup anyway, and now it has become even more so. Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve confirmed Tuesday that Fowles will play, and that means it's another meeting of 2008's Nos. 1 and 2 draft picks, both of whom are two-time Olympic gold medalists.

Parker joins a team with the worst record in the WNBA at 3-13. The Sparks have talent, but the sum of their parts has seemed better than their whole thus far. And it's the whole that either wins or loses games. In comparison, for example, the West-leading Lynx are 12-4.

Can Parker radically change things? Maybe she won't have to; perhaps just a little change will make the difference for Los Angeles.

"People come to our games and watch us and say, 'Your record doesn't reflect what we're watching,''' said Nneka Ogwumike, who like fellow Sparks post player Jantel Lavender was part of the West team at this past weekend's All-Star Game. "It's just about tight-game situations and closing it out, sticking to what we know and maintaining poise.

"It's paying attention to detail during the guts of the game, and having confidence in ourselves."

The confidence part certainly should be boosted with Parker, a two-time WNBA MVP, back on the court.

"No one has thrown in the towel; we're still working and believe we can make the playoffs," Lavender said. "We don't feel like we're a losing team. Everybody is still really optimistic about the season, and Candace will give us a push."

Ogwumike, who missed some time at the beginning of the season with injury, is leading the Sparks, averaging 16.8 points and 9.9 rebounds. Lavender, the only Sparks player who has started every game this season, is averaging 14.9 points and 9.1 rebounds.

For her WNBA career, Parker has averaged 17.7 points and 9.0 rebounds.

"It's great to have another addition, and we're glad to know that she's ready to come back," Ogwumike said. "As far as me and Jantel, we're just going to keep rolling. I don't see it affecting us in any way but positively. I know Candace is going to come in and put in as many minutes as she can and give us whatever we need."

Coach Brian Agler -- who took over in Los Angeles before this season after a lot of success at Seattle -- and his Sparks know that a postseason spot is still within reach, despite such a slow start.

"We're just focused on making the playoffs," Ogwumike said. "Once you're in the playoffs, it's anybody's game."