Second-half predictions for Mercury:
“We’ve had a few rough patches in the first half of the season, so I fell like we’ve learned from those and hopefully we’re going to start making that uphill slant in the second half. It’s been a little bit up and down, so hopefully we can get a bit of experience from that. We’ve had double-overtime games, we’ve had really hard-fought wins, so hopefully that’s going to benefit us in the end.”

What does your team need to do down the stretch to make the playoffs or go even further?
“We need to have the same energy we’ve had in certain games. We’ve come out and we’ve run the ball and that’s what we like to do and we’ve looked great when we’ve been doing that. But a couple times we’ve had lower energy and it hasn’t been as successful for us. We’re a youthful team, so we definitely need to have that high energy every game.”

CANDICE DUPREE:

Second-half predictions for Sky:
“Everyone in the league has been a little up and down, with exception of Sacramento, Detroit and Indiana. Hopefully in the second half of the season it will level out a little bit more. As far as Chicago goes, we’re definitely looking to win some games. We have Indiana and Detroit right off the bat, so that will be good for us. But, of course, we’re gonna try to make a playoff run.”

Second-half predictions for yourself:
“Just to try and pick it back up a little bit. In the first half, I started to get a little tired at the end, but hopefully the break will help me out. And just to come out strong like I did in the first half of the season.”

What does your team need to do down the stretch to make the playoffs or go even further?
“We have to do a better job of closing our games. We start off games really well. Earlier in the season we were having a difficult time in the third quarter, but now we’re fine the first three quarters and we’re having a tough time finishing up in the fourth. So that’s probably the biggest thing that I think we’re going to need to make the playoffs.”

What has it been like this year as opposed to last year when you won a total of five games?
“This year there’s a lot more energy. Where we’re at, we’re having a lot more fun this year. Already we’ve won more games than last year. We’ve jelled really well together, faster that I thought because we have a lot of new players and new coaches. Overall, things have gone pretty well.”

What’s it like playing for Bo Overton?
“He’s definitely a very emotional guy. He gets pretty intense sometimes. But I think he just likes to keep us on our toes, keeps us focused and he just wants us to win.”

TAJ MCWILLIAMS-FRANKLIN:

Second-half predictions for Sparks:
“We’re going to put some things together. This break came at a great time for us because we’re in the midst of a losing streak. I think a lot of players are going to re-evaluate their commitment to the team and what we want to do in the league. Personally, I’m going to come out more committed, push myself as hard as I can for the second season because we want to get into the playoffs.”

Second-half goals for yourself:
“I have to increase my scoring output. My rebounding is on par with where it usually is, but I want to increase it at least three rebounds a game.”

What does your team need to do down the stretch to make the playoffs or go even further?
“We need to get a consistent product on the floor every night. Sometimes we play half a game, and when you do that teams put you away. We lost a big game to Seattle where we were close in the first half and in the second half we were missing shots, and we ended up losing by 40 points. We can’t have that. We’re a professional team. We’re the LA Sparks. We have to have more pride in ourselves and in what we’re doing out on the floor and that’s one of the main things that we’re going to fix in the second half and get on a roll so we can get into the playoffs.”