Los Angeles Sparks:

SPARKS HEAD COACH BRIAN AGLER …………………………………………………………………………..
(On the game)
“I’m really proud of our perseverance. We got off to a really good start, gave up the lead, fought back and took it over. Both teams were just fighting like crazy at the end. We’re just fortunate we had some people … Candace (Parker) really stepped it up today. Essence (Carson) played fantastic and Alana (Beard) hit some big shots and did a really good job on Sue (Bird). To me, Sue is as valuable as any player in this league. That’s not to take away from anybody else, but it’s just the impact she has – she orchestrates things and when you help away from her she’s going to hit you, too. I’m happy we had a chance to win and we have to get ready for the next one.”

(On their effort in the fourth quarter)
“Yeah, our defense. We stuck with it. They missed some shots – both teams missed some shots they can make. It’s been a real grueling season. I know they’re on a little bit of a grind right now and we’ve gone through some of that. We finally got our first complete day off in over three weeks a couple days ago so I know exactly what they’re going through. We had to go through it ourselves, but they have a great team and we’re happy to be able to come in here and get a win.”

(On using this win as a springboard going forward)
“It could be. There are a lot of teams playing well right now. There are some teams that if you look at the standings and think they’re not going to make the playoffs, but are playing pretty well. It’s going to be interesting how it plays out.”

SPARKS FORWARD CANDACE PARKER ………………………………………………………………………..
(On the game)
“In the first half, we started the game pretty well. The third quarter was a little bit of a letdown the way that we came out in the second half. They took it to us and Alysha Clark played really well in those minutes, but I’m proud of the way we fought back. Nothing is perfect. There are a lot of things we can correct and look at, but for us to come out with a win – this is a very different postgame than what I’ve given here for the last four years. It was a big win obviously for coach (Brian) Agler having coached here previously.”

(On what the key was holding Seattle to six points in the fourth quarter)
“I think defensively … in years past, we’ve played great defense, but given up offensive boards. We just try to make a concerted effort of giving them one shot and depend on our half-court defense.”

(On the playoff-like atmosphere in this game)
“They’re the first place team so right now they’re the measuring stick of where all of us want to be. For whatever that’s worth in this league … this is crazy since we were in first maybe a week ago. Things change, but all you can do is play the team that’s in front of you. Like I said, there are things that we can do differently, but we came out with the win.”

Seattle Storm:

STORM COACH DAN HUGHES …………………………………………………………………..
(On the game as a whole)
“Hard fought game. I thought we came out in the third quarter and created a pace that we needed to play at but in the fourth, we had a hard time finishing. Our ability to offensively complement the flow of the game, we struggled a little bit. We just didn’t finish some plays that are typical for us. Overtime was a back and forth affair. I thought we got a couple good looks — we scored nine in the overtime coming out of it. It was a tough, hard fought, very physical game I thought.”

(On recovering from team’s 21 turnovers as the game went on)
“I think you make a good point. I think the story of the game, really the only thing I mentioned to the team, was that we fought hard. That’s the most turnovers we’ve had in any game all year. I thought they really packed the lane. We didn’t shoot the ball effectively today and we played a little fast. I thought we made decisions with the basketball that were either deflected or were forced a little bit. That was us just not spacing and moving the ball on more possession and us trying to make something that really wasn’t quite there. You’re making 50/50 plays when you want to play 80/20 in regard to it. I thought we had kind of come out in the third quarter and played at a really good pace for what we wanted to do but it’s just uncharacteristic for us to turn it over at that kind of rate and we have to take ownership of some of that.”

(On Alysha Clark’s play, especially in the third quarter)
“Well I mean she just fought too and how many deflections does she create and plays out of her defense. That’s what she does so well and Sue [Bird] did a good job of us playing to Alysha [Clark] near the basket. She really played well on both ends. She’s a really tough guard near the basket. She was also creating offense out of her defense was what she did.”

STORM FORWARD BREANNA STEWART ……………………………………………………….
(On the fourth quarter)
“We scored six points and they made a run and were making tough shots and that’s why we went into overtime.”

(On last play of the game)
“We had to go from the sidelines and I was pinning down for Sue [Bird] and her intention was to curl around me and hit my defended so that I could pop out, I did not think that I had to shot. So, I passed to Sue and she shot it. We were able to get the rebound, Tash [Natasha Howard] threw it up, and I thought I had a good look to put it back. It was a little rushed because of the time but I should have made the shot.”

(On getting ready the for next game)
“Just rest. We will get some treatment in, watch some video, get a good practice in. This season is short, so we don’t have time keep mulling over a game, win or lose you watch film, you move on.”