The Los Angeles Sparks will be without starting guard Ariel Atkins for Friday night's matchup against the Toronto Tempo, as the team continues its search for the first win of the season. Atkins, a two-time All-Star and Olympic gold medalist, was listed on the injury report Thursday with a concussion after an early exit from Wednesday's 87-78 loss to the Indiana Fever.

The injury occurred in the third quarter when Atkins took an errant elbow to the head, forcing her to leave the game and not return. Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts confirmed after the contest that Atkins was "clocked" by the elbow, describing the impact that led to the concussion diagnosis. In her 16 minutes on the court, Atkins struggled to find her rhythm, going 0-of-4 from the field and finishing with just two points from the free-throw line.

Atkins' absence is a significant blow to a Sparks squad already dealing with roster limitations. The team will be down to just 10 available players against Toronto, as forward Sania Feagin remains sidelined with a lower leg strain suffered two days before Wednesday's game. Roberts did not provide a timeline for Feagin's return, leaving the Sparks thin on depth as they look to turn their early-season fortunes around.

In the season opener against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces, Atkins showed her typical all-around game with eight points, four rebounds, three assists, and three steals. The Sparks will need that kind of production from their remaining healthy players as they face a Tempo team eager to build momentum early in the season. For fans tracking the Sparks' journey, every game matters—and the right gear can help you show support through every win, loss, and comeback.