USC's Galen Center is the site to begin the Western Conference Semifinals. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs.San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

(WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

The Sparks' Kristi Toliver #20 received the WNBA's Most Improved Player of the Year award, during pregame ceremonies. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Candace Parker #3, during player introductions. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

The Sparks take the floor. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

The game's opening tipoff. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA.. September 27, 2012.)

San Antonio's Becky Hammon #25 makes a three-point shot attempt. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Becky Hammon #25 starts to drive on Nneka Ogwumike #30. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Nneka Ogwumike #30 shoots a short jumper over Sophia Young #33. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Candace Parker #3 shoots just above the reach of Jayne Appel #32. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Kristi Toliver #20, Danielle Robinson #13. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Alana Beard #0 steals a pass intended for Becky Hammon #25. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Kristi Toliver #20 launches a shoot over Danielle Adams #23. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Nneka Ogwumike #30 drives inside for a layup. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Former Sparks and current USC Women's Basketball Head Coach Michael Cooper is introduced to the crowd. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Sparks' players go over strategy during a timeout. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

San Antonio F Sophia Young #33. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Shenise Johnson #42, tips a rebound back to herself. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Sparks' Head Coach Carol Ross argues over a call with official Jeff Smith. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

The Silver Stars' Jia Perkins #7 knocks the ball away from the driving Candace Parker #3. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Nneka Ogwumike #30 battles for post position with Shameka Christon #20, Sophia Young #33. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Jia Perkins #7 drives around Kristi Toliver #20. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM !, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Candace Parker #3 pleads to the officials about her three-point shot. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Danielle Robinson #13 dribbles around Marissa Coleman #25. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

San Antonio Head Coach Dan Hughes checks in on Danielle Robinson #13. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Kristi Toliver #20. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Candace Parker #3 gets a second-effort rebound. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Shameka Christon #20 steals a pass intended for DeLisha Milton-Jones #8. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Los Angeles Clipper teammates DeAndre Jordan, Blake Griffin watch the game from courtside. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Becky Hammon #25 shoots from long distance. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Nneka Ogwumike #30 nearly blocks Danielle Adams' #23 shot. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Kristi Toliver #20, a breakaway steal, heads for a score. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Sparks' Head Coach Carol Ross applauds her team's effort. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Candace Parker #3, Sophia Young #33. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

The Sparks' fans cheer all over Galen Center. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Jayne Appel #32 blocks Kristi Toliver's #20 layup attempt. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Alana Beard #0 scores an uncontested layup. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

The Sparks' Jenna O'Hea #6 manages to rise above the pack for a score. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

A patented Kristi Toliver #20 long-distance shot is what helped her become the league's most improved player this season. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Kristi Toliver #20, Candace Parker #3 converge to detour Becky Hammon #25. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Candace Parker #3 drives in aggressively to cap a Sparks' playoff victory, the first since 2009. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

DeLisha Milton-Jones #8 raises her fist in triumph. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Sparks' fans enjoy the outcome. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Alana Beard #0, Nneka Ogwumike #30, and Jenna O'Hea #6 begin the celebration of victory. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Becky Hammon #25 shows her disappointment. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Carol Ross is all smiles after her first-ever playoff win in Los Angeles. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)

Kristi Toliver #20, Candace Parker #3, postgame press conference. (WNBA Western Conf. Semifinals GM 1, Los Angeles Sparks 93 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars 86, Galen Center, Los Angeles, CA. September 27, 2012.)