LOS ANGELES -- Candace Parker is one game away from getting the Los Angeles Sparks to the WNBA Finals. This time, she doesnt want to miss.Parker had 20 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in a 99-84 victory over the Chicago Sky on Friday night to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-5 semifinals.My rookie year, it seems like just yesterday, barely missing the finals, said Parker, now in her ninth season. When I left the court, I was like, `Oh, well be back and that hasnt happened.The Sparks havent won the WNBA championship since taking back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002, when Lisa Leslie starred for the franchise.Weve learned these opportunities dont just come around and we have to take advantage of it, Parker said.Parker wasnt chosen for the U.S. womens Olympic team that won gold in Rio de Janeiro after helping them to gold medals in 2008 and 2012. But she resisted Chicago coach Pokey Chatmans assessment that shes playing with a chip on her shoulder.I dont think there was anything to prove but that we could get to the finals and were capable of winning a championship, Parker said. Our team has played as such. Thats the way you have to play when you want to put yourself in position to win a championship.League sixth woman of the year Jantel Lavender added 20 points on 10-of-11 shooting, league MVP Nneka Ogwumike had 18, Kristi Toliver 17 and Essence Carson 11 in the Sparks return to their home court at Staples Center. They won Game 1 by 20 points in Long Beach on Wednesday.The Sparks shot 54 percent from the field.Toliver hit four of the Sparks 10 3-pointers. The Sky was 3 of 13 from long-range.Reserve Clarissa Dos Santos scored 15 points and Jamierra Faulkner added 14 off the bench for the Sky. Cappie Pondexter had 13.We didnt start off well, Faulkner said. We allowed them to get comfortable and we cant allow that to happen again.Chicago rallied to close within 10 after trailing by 21 early in the third, led by Courtney Vandersloot and Tamera Young, who finished with 12.The Sparks recovered, going on a 10-1 run that extended their lead to 78-59 going into the fourth. Chelsea Gray had a three-point play and passed to a streaking Lavender, who converted on the fast break before hitting a 20-foot jumper herself.Shes a microwave. Thats what I call her, Parker said of Lavender. She comes and she heats up.Just as in Game 1, the Sparks rode a big second quarter to a dominating lead. Two nights earlier, they scored 30 points in the period. This time, they outscored the Sky 29-15, including a 12-0 run to open the quarter. The offensive load was distributed among four players: Carson had eight points, Ogwumike added seven, and Parker and Lavender had six each.When were playing well and were cheering for each other its always going to be fun, Ogwumike said, and we want it to be that all the way.TIP-INSThe Sparks improved to 5-0 against the Sky, including three regular-season victories. ... Sparks G Alana Beard and Ogwumike were named to the WNBAs All-Defensive first team. ... Brian Agler of the Sparks finished second to Minnesotas Cheryl Reeve in the voting for league coach of the year. ... Sparks co-owner Magic Johnson introduced Olympic track champion Allyson Felix to a standing ovation in the third, drawing a shy smile from the low-key Felix. ... Also on hand was Clippers All-Star Chris Paul, retired Lakers star Derek Fisher and Kiki Vandeweghe, the NBAs vice president of basketball operations.WHAT A SHOTToliver hit a 3-pointer that beat the buzzer to end the first quarter. Sandwiched between two defenders, she tossed up the ball from the left side while falling down, giving the Sparks a 28-27 lead after they had been outscored 11-2.Kristi shoots typical Kristi shots, Ogwumike said. You really cant explain them.STILL SIDELINEDChatman said Sky star Elena Delle Donne would not suit up for Game 3. She watched in street clothes because of a right thumb injury. Delle Donne shared the league scoring title with New Yorks Tina Charles, averaging 21. 5 points.WHATS NEXTGame 3 is Sunday in Chicago. Alan Page Womens Jersey . The nimble-footed quarterback got his wish, dashing through the snow and a weary defence all the way into the NCAA record book. Alexander Mattison Youth Jersey . Denis Coderre, the former federal MP who was elected mayor on Nov. 3, has drawn the ire of some Montreal Canadiens. During last nights game he tweeted: "Hello? Can we get a one-way ticket to (minor-league) Hamilton for David Desharnais please. http://www.thevikingsshoponline.com/Youth-Jalyn-Holmes-Vikings-Jersey/ . The 29-year-old from Port Colborne, Ont., has nothing but good things to say about former U.S. marine Liz (Girlrilla) Carmouche ahead of their co-main event Wednesday on the UFCs "Fight for the Troops" televised card in Fort Campbell, Ky. Adrian Peterson Youth Jersey . The 29-year-old Baines has established himself as one of the top attacking full backs in the country and was the subject of two bids from United during the last off-season. Everton manager Roberto Martinez says that keeping Baines at the club is a "massive boost and exciting for the future" because he brings "maturity and football knowledge in a very specialized position on the pitch" and an "infectious and positive influence to the rest of the squad. Chuck Foreman Womens Jersey . - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not a fan of his teams use of the wildcat formation, saying "it makes you look like a high school offence. TUCSON, Ariz. -- Stanford and Arizona both had designs on winning their respective divisions heading into the Pac-12 season.A string of injuries in both programs have changed their courses a bit. The division titles are all but out of reach, so Saturday nights game in the desert is more about regaining momentum and moving toward bowl eligibility.Were two teams with talent and ability and were both dealing with injuries, Stanford coach David Shaw said. When healthy, were both one of the top teams in the league.The Cardinal were the defending Pac-12 champions and appeared to be a favorite to repeat after opening the season with three strong wins. A blowout loss to then-No. 10 Washington followed, triggering Stanfords first three-game losing streak in the Pac-12 since 2008, leaving the Cardinal needing two wins to become bowl eligible.Stanford (4-3, 2/3 Pac-12) has not been able to rely heavily on Christian McCaffrey, thanks to an undisclosed injury suffered against Washington State on Oct. 8. Last years Heisman Trophy runner-up did not play against Notre Dame and was held mostly in check in a loss to Colorado last week.The Cardinal will not have cornerback Elijah Holder and fullback Daniel Marx against Arizona, with offensive linemen David Bright and Johnny Caspers both listed as questionable.Arizona bounced back from an opening loss to BYU with a pair of victories, but has been decimated by injuries since then, leaving coach Rich Rodriguezs streak of bowl games in jeopardy.The Wildcats (2-5, 0-4) have seen their top two quarterbacks go down with injury and were forced to move receiver Samajie Grant to running back due to injuries and off-the-field issues. Quarterbacks Anu Solomon and Brandon Dawkins were back at practice this week, but running back Nick Wilson will be out an extended period of time after suffering a new injury in Arizonas last game against Southern California.Eventually you feel this isnt going to happen every year and its a freak-of-nature tyype of thing, Rodriguez said.ddddddddddddIts kind of strange. Its never happened to us and then last year it was the middle linebacker and this year its the quarterbacks and running backs. Its bad luck. Its just one of those things.A few more things to look for when the Wildcats host the Cardinal on Saturday night:STANFORD QB: Stanford has been mired in an offensive slump, so Shaw made the decision to name junior Kelly Chryst as the starting quarterback over fifth-year senior Ryan Burns. Burns threw for 1,058 yards and five touchdowns with seven interceptions while going 4-3 as Stanfords starter. Chryst, the son of former 49ers offensive coordinator Geep Chryst, has appeared in 10 games over the past two years, throwing for 122 yards on 12-of-27 passing.ARIZONA QB: Rodriguez will have a decision to make this week with neither Solomon nor Dawkins appearing on the teams injury report for the first time since the opening game of the season. Dawkins was the starter in both of Arizonas wins, but did not play against USC on Oct. 15 due to a concussion. Solomon, Arizonas starter to open the past three seasons, has not played since suffering a knee injury in practice after the opening loss to BYU. Rodriguez has not tipped his hand on who will start against Stanford.WEAKNESS VS. WEAKNESS: Stanford has dropped into an offensive funk of epic proportions. Once one of the nations best power-football teams, the Cardinal entered Saturdays game last in the FBS in total offense with 299.1 yards per game. Stanford has sc