The WNBA has compressed this year's schedule in order to minimize the disruption caused by September's World Championship in Brazil. Each team still plays 34 games, but the regular season ends on August 13.

The compressed season will affect every team's performance: with more back-to-back games, fatigue becomes more of a factor, and teams with deep benches should benefit. But it will be especially weird for L.A.

1. The Sparks almost always open their season with a slew of road games, in order to minimize the disruption caused by the Lakers (and, this year, the Clippers) in the NBA postseason.

2. The X Games take place at the Staples Center August 3-6, and might need a few days to move their stuff in and then out.

3. In consequence, the 2006 Sparks play a really strange schedule: they start with six road games, then play 14 out of 15 at home (the exception, Sacramento, requires no plane ride), and later play eight road games in a row.

Will the long homestand help L.A. more than the long road trips hurt? Board Junkies-- including some Sparks fans-- consider the madness. (Special informative thanks to OrangeKrush and Icey.)