Clarendon’s toughness has been a positive light for the Sparks

The Sparks pride themselves on being disruptive and that ethos is personified by Sparks veteran guard Layshia Clarendon, who is starting at the small forward position for the first time in their decade-long career in the WNBA.

“I play bigger than I am,” Clarendon began, who is listed at 5-foot-9. “My mantra was always, bite them on the ankles. That’s what I do when I go out there . ... I like to play physically and I like to play tough and so I think that’s just something that plays to my advantage to guard a three-player (small forward) or getting switched on to certain people and it’s just that grit, that toughness and I think that’s what we really had (Saturday night) and I was really proud of myself for having that and getting to the freethrow line.”

Clarendon finished with a season-high 16 points, six assists and three steals in the Sparks’ 92-85 victory over the Seattle Storm on Saturday night.

“I’ve known Lay for a long time and to be able to see her path and her journey and everything that’s gone on is really impressive and I think that mental fortitude as a player in this league who fights for opportunities and thrives when she gets there is the coolest thing ever,” said Sparks center Chiney Ogwumike, who has scored in double figures in three out of the four games she has played this season. “So it’s fun to have people like this that you have gone through wars with literally since you were out of high school and now you’re teammates. We don’t take that for granted.”

Ogwumike is a former

Stanford star, and Clarendon starred at Cal. They played against each other several times in college and many times since during their WNBA careers.

The Sparks have found success with the team’s unconventional starting lineup of Jordin Canada, Lexie Brown, Clarendon, Nneka Ogwumike and Chiney Ogwumike.

“We have a unit that can find disruption and find opportunities to really dictate what we want to happen at the defensive end,” Sparks coach Curt Miller said. “Offensive end, I just love our unselfishness.”

Miller, who is in his first year leading the Sparks after spending his first seven years as a WNBA coach with the Connecticut Sun, praised the fact that all five of his starters scored nine points or more on Saturday.

The Sparks (3-2) take a modest two-game winning streak into tonight’s rematch with the Storm (0-4).