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Sparks stumble and fall to Mercury 92-84 behind Thomas triple double

By
Charle' Moore
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Los Angeles, CA – Rickea Jackson fought hard Tuesday night through a tough game, helping her team on their home floor in Crypto Arena compete for nearly three quarters before taking an awkward stumble and Los Angeles Sparks fell to Phoenix Mercury 92-84 behind All-star point forward Alyssa Thomas’ record breaking single season seventh triple double. 

“It was physical and I think those are probably really hard games to officiate,” coach Lynne Roberts said. “Playoffs are coming, and people are like, ‘we’re scrapping for our lives’, and they’re playing hard. We’re all playing for something and the intensity’s up.”

Thomas raised her Mercury teammates up with dishing 31 assists in their last two games while breaking her own record set in 2023 with her 18th career triple-double, scoring 12 points, snatching 16 rebounds and sharing the ball for 15 assists.

Thomas’ teammate Kahleah Copper praised her teammate for being an opponent’s matchup nightmare.

“She’s [Thomas] doing this every night. She’s tough to guard. She can do it all,” Cooper said. “You really want to try to take away her vision because she can pass.”

Sparks defense attempted to contain Thomas holding her to one point at halftime and only two field goals but down the stretch she scored at will to reach double figures, recording more history as the first WNBA player ever to post at least 10 points, 15 boards and 15 assists.

Speaking less about his team’s superb unselfishness on offense with five players in double figures, Mercury coach felt his team defense slacked at the end of the game.

“I think we allowed them to get to the line too much,” coach Nate Tibbetts said.

Mercury defense held Sparks to one of their lowest points games of this season scoring under 90. Kelsey Plum battled Kahleah Copper all night, shoving and jawing at one another on various plays.

“We did a good job. [We were] forcing some turnovers, getting some steals, and then we turned it right back over,” Coach Roberts explained. “Trying to play too fast. In the half court, it was okay. We didn’t shoot great from three. I think that’s where the difference in the game is. They went 11-for-25, we went 7-for-24, everything else is about the same.”

Plum eventually found her rhythm late in the game at the charity stripe going a perfect 4-for-4 to reach 20 points off 50 percent field goal percentage. Plum leads the league with most 20 points game and at least four assists, six more than New York Liberty Sabrina Ionescu.

“I think in the second half, we were able to get back into the rhythm and I think where it hurt us the most was just transitioning,” Azurá Stevens said. “For [the Mercury], they got a lot of points in the first half, but in the second half, we were able to clean that up.”

Jackson and Dearica Hamby carried the offensive load for Los Angeles, both scoring 13 apiece at halftime. Hamby finished with 25 points, eight rebounds and five steals. Jackson amassed 21 points, nailing four triples and now at least three triples in four consecutive games for the first time in her career off a 57 percent shooting behind the arc. 

“We all want to win and I won’t apologize for that, but I’m not [going to] blame the officiating, we gotta fight through things and have that toughness to us,” coach Roberts said.

Satou Sabally led Mercury with 19 points, tallying 12 of them in the first quarter. Copper added 18 points while two other Mercury players came off the bench to reach double figures, DeWanna Bonner and Sami Whitcomb, 14 and 17, respectively.

Los Angeles Sparks (17-19) have two more home games to wrap up this month, Friday against Indiana Fever and Sunday versus Washington Mystics that they need to win, giving them any chance of extending their season and making the playoffs. Meanwhile, Phoenix (23-14) secured their playoff standings as a fourth-place team.

Plum at the Buzzer wins the battle

By
Jevone Moore
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Photo by fi360 News

Los Angeles, CA – The Los Angeles Sparks take the win at the buzzer, on a floater from the paint by Kelsey Plum for 81-80 over Dallas Wings.

“It was a back and forth game,” said Plum, “As a player you gotta believe in yourself.”

Kelsey Plum took over in the 4th as court a general and a scorer, taking the load off Rickea Jackson who carried the team for 3 quarters. But Paige Bueckers would not let her team go away quietly.

Bueckers led the Wings with 44 points, 3 assists, and 4 rebounds. She was the Dallas
Wings today and her box office skills on display. She scored the most points in the game, but it wasn’t enough.

Jackson scored 25 points with 6-7 from 3-point land to led the team, along with Plum dropping 20 points with the most important 2 for the win.

“It was a good win, yeah we gotta play some fucking defense!” said Plum

The game intensity picked up in the 4th quarter and you could see how much each team wanted this win. The lead kept changing back and forth, basket for basket. Even a few hard fouls by the Wings and Sparks.

The Paige Bueckers effect was real at Crypto.com Arena, you could see #5 Wings Jersey all over the crowd but it really showed in the second half when she was on Jumbo-Tron and crowd went crazy with cheers.

Just a few minutes later Bueckers made an And1 to push the Wings 58-57 lead with 2:45 in 3rd quarter. If your eyes were closed you would think we were in Dallas.

The Sparks opened the game out of sync keeping the fans on their feet for most of the 1st quarter before they could score a basket. Finally, at 4:52 mark on the clock Jackson hit a three pointer from the corner making the score 11-3.

Jackson’s 3-pointers single handily helped Sparks keep pace with her 11 points in the first quarter of play. At the end of 1st quarter, Sparks had pulled ahead 18-16 to catch back up.

The Sparks had matched the Wings energy and took 7-point lead into half 44-37.

Both teams the Wings and the Sparks both are on the outside looking in at the top 8 teams that are on pace to make the 2025 playoffs. Wings are 8.5 games out while the Sparks after the most recent run are only 1 game back from the 8th spot.

Next up the Wings will travel home to host the Seattle Storm on Friday August 22nd. The Sparks will host Mercury on Tuesday August 26th.

Valkyries can’t keep pace with the Mercury

By
Trisha Victorio
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Photo by Trisha Victorio / fi360 News

San Francisco, CA – Phoenix Mercury’s savvy veteran Dewanna Bonner drained a double clutch jumper to ice a 98-91 victory over the home team Golden State Valkyries. 

“Finishing possessions, rebounding… not letting the physicality disrupt us too much,” were all points of emphasis for a better outcome provided by Valkyries star Veronica Burton after the game. The fourth year guard contributed 24 points and 14 assists, while also going a perfect 10-10 for good measure. Veronica’s performance was however topped by Kalea Coopers efficient 25 point performance.

Photo by Trisha Victorio / fi360 News

Going into the second half of the game Golden State held a 59-47 lead over Phoenix, however that lead would quickly dissipate in the following quarter. The Valkryie would end up going an abysmal 6-24 in the 3rd quarter, which included 5 missed layups, leading to an only 5 point lead during the start of the fourth. 

The Mercury were able to win in the margins during a back and forth end to the game. Nothing emphasized the difference in finishing possessions than the last 3 minutes as Dewanna Bonner was able to grab an offensive rebound that led to 2 extra points for Alyssa Thomas, followed up by Valkyries big Fagbenle missing a wide open layup to finish a perfectly ran pick and roll. 

Starters Carla Leite and Kate Martin combined for an inefficient 10-31 night. Martin, could claim a big chunk of those misses as the known sharpshooter found herself finishing the game shooting 4-16 from the three point line. 

Photo by Trisha Victorio / fi360 News

“We got to fight. That’s it, we got to fight,” said the talented rookie Janelle Salaun during her post game wrap. 

Luckily for the Valkryies they get a second shot at giving the “fight” to the Mercury on Friday August 22. Look for the Valkyries to try and stop their recent 2 game skid as there is less room for error during this end of season playoff push.

Photo by Trisha Victorio / fi360 News

Rams rally late to beat Chargers

By
Christopher Floch
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INGLEWOOD, CA– A thrilling conclusion seen the Rams rally late at SoFi Stadium for a 23-22 victory over the Chargers in a battle for L.A. on Saturday, August 16th. Rams backup quarterback Stenson Bennett was superb, hitting Tru Edwards with an 8-yard touchdown pass with 5 seconds left,

Bennett passed for 324 yards and three scores in the last second win. His second excellent preseason performance in a row. The Rams have been extremely vague about Matthew Staffords health and availability for Week 1.

It seems a cloak and dagger scenario with the Rams not disclosing the extent of Staffords injury, nor offering a time table for his return.

Long story short: Bennett looks like he may be starting Week 1 against the Houston Texans.

As for the other SoFi tenant, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert played in his first preseason game ever as a pro. He was sharp in his sole drive, however Herbert’s only series was interrupted when receiver Quentin Johnston went down hard and left the field on a cart.

Herbert asked for some limited action in this outing to get some work with the Bolts’ revamped offense, which is now missing starting left tackle Rashawn Slater.

“I was happy with the action that both our first-team defense and first-team offense got in this game,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “We needed it. It helped us.”

Raheim Sanders rushed for a 1-yard TD in the third quarter set up by Trey Lance’s exceptional 34-yard completion to Harris.

Bennett hit Mario Williams for a 38-yard dart touchdown pass on the final play of the third, putting a beautiful downfield throw directly in the hands of the former USC receiver. Bennett also threw a 2-yard TD pass to rookie Konata Mumpfield in the first half.

Trailing 22-17, with under two minutes, Bennett reset himself after throwing a costly interception advised and drove his offense downfield in the waning seconds.

Brennan Presley made an acrobatic 40-yard catch between two defenders with 11 seconds left, setting up Edwards’ winning catch on the next play.

UCLA Bruins enjoying the preseason restful Gameday!

The Chargers finish the preseason in Santa Clara against the 49ers on Aug. 23.

The Rams travel nearly 2,400 miles to face the Cleveland Browns on Aug. 23rd. It’s going to be the Shedeur Sanders show. The rookie Quarterback is the biggest storyline thus far.

Sparks slip to Liberty’s outsized front-court duo, 105-97

By
Charle' Moore
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Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News

Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles Sparks were outmatched in height and harmony as the New York Liberty heated up from deep hitting 14 triples, the most made all season by a Sparks’ opponent while Liberty’s dominance in the paint led by Emma Meesseman season-high 24 points and Jonquel Jones’ double-double, 21 points and 11 rebounds drowned whom some WNBA coaches referred as the hottest team amongst the league, scoring a season team high 105 over Sparks 97 for a rematch victory at Crypto arena on Tuesday night.

“I just felt like we were missing a little ‘umph’ today. Defensively, we were not great,” coach Lynne Roberts said. “I just heard Dearica [Hamby] is top 10 [on the Sparks’ all-time scoring list], which is awesome. We just were a little bit off, but we still scored almost 100 and did some good things. But you have to give credit to New York, I thought they did a good job. Their zone slowed us down a little bit.”

Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News

Los Angeles’ team leaders, Kelsey Plum scored 26 points and Hamby added 21 points, eight rebounds and four steals but didn’t have enough still with the other two core scorers on the team, Azura Stevens and Rickea Jackson, scoring 17 and 16 respectively, to dispel the magic of defending league champions despite a relative quiet night from their leading scorer Sabrina Ionescu, whom scored 14 points and six assists.

“I think, offensively, we know who we are, we know what we’re good at, we know what gets us away from that,” coach Roberts said. “But New York shot 56% and had 14 threes.”

For Los Angeles (15-17), this is their fifth game in eight days as they fallen short for the third time in their last 10 games.

“One game shouldn’t break us,” Hamby said. “Like I said, we did a lot of things well, and we didn’t play our best basketball, but we have really important games coming up that we should win, and [we’ll] go from there.”

For New York (21-11), whom just loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday, 83-71, bounced back with a historic win for their head coach Sandy Brondello, celebrating her 100th victory to tie as the All-time winningest coach with this franchise.

Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News

Veteran and fan favorite, Natasha Cloud made back-to-back buckets to give her team their largest lead, 96-85. Ionescu followed with a layup while 1:22 remaining in the game. Los Angeles failed to convert on offense, turning into another Cloud uncontested drive in the lane for a 102-91 lead.

New York had a trio of twenty-point scorers including starter Leonie Fiebich 20 points while Cloud had 11 points with two assists, two steals and two rebounds. Besides “Stewie” (knee) absence from the game, Isabelle Harrison (concussion), Nyara Sabally (knee) and Kennedy Burke (calf) did not play though Burke was listed as for emergency due to the team being short-handed.

“In the past, the zone made us slow down a little bit, but tonight, we actually did a really good job for the most part,” Plum said.

Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News

From Plum’s outlook, Sparks was able to draw a silver lining with their productive offense but might face going back to drawing board for their depth contribution after Cameron Brink did not play in the second half of the game. Live reports on Twitter were disseminated of her noticeably missing off the bench the beginning of the third quarter. Later during the game you could see her having her ankle wrapped up before it was confirmed post-game she tweaked her ankle without any further update.

Dearica Hamby delivers game-ending three-point play as Sparks surpass Storm, 94-91

By
Charle' Moore
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Los Angeles, CA – Dearica Hamby drew an “And 1” driving by her defender to put Los Angeles Sparks up three with 5.6 seconds left, followed by a breakaway steal from Julie Allemand to run out the clock, and seal the win over the Seattle Storm on Sunday at Crypto Arena, 94-91.

“We’re happy, we’re playing for that kind of game, you know? It’s exciting to play that kind of game, and at the end when you make the shot that we need, it’s a great feeling as a team,” Allemand said. “It’s everybody. When we play like that, we have so much fun, and it was tough for us at the beginning of the game, but then we came back…it’s a team win, the feeling is so different, and it’s just amazing to win like that.”

Kelsey Plum led her team with 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Hamby added 19 points, which included scoring seven of the Sparks’ final nine points plus two crucial free throws to tie the game at 87 with 1:25 remaining.

“The worst thing you can do is fear losing. The worst thing that can happen is [taking a loss], but you don’t want to think about losing, you want to think about just winning the next play and staying in attack mode,” coach Lynne Roberts said. “Dearica [Hamby] just made a great [play] and then hit her free throws. She was huge. Huge plays. Julie [Allemand’s] steal at the end. I mean, everybody contributed. Just like she said, it was a total team win.”

This game had a total of 10 lead changes and nine ties, as the Los Angeles weathered the Storm for second time this far in a three-game series to take the lead matchup against Seattle.

Storm’s Brittney Sykes kept her team battling with a pair of crafty layups late in the game, including one with 12.7 seconds left to tie it at 91-all after a pair of Plum free throws with 56.5 seconds to go for a Sparks’ two-point lead.

Sykes scored 27 points, rookie reserve Dominique Malonga added 20, while veterans Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike, poured in 17 and 15, respectively.

“It’s so hard to guard [Dominique Malonga], she’s just so big and athletic. When they [went] really big, we went a little smaller with Rickea [Jackson] at the 4,” coach Roberts explained. “As I always say, the knife cuts both ways – they gotta defend us, so it was a battle of wills. It seems like every time we play them, it’s back and forth…Seattle’s a good team, and they got a lot of powerful vets on that roster, so [I] couldn’t be more proud of the team.”

The Sparks (15-16) trailed 26-14 in the first quarter before finding their legs under them after back-to-back games, and traveling from Northern California, within 24 hours. The second quarter, Sparks’ second wind kicked in to win the period 32-14, and take the lead 46-40 at halftime.

“We played at Golden State, and they put a ton of pressure on the ball, so I was trying to get off of it, and we didn’t make shots and stuff like that, but tonight, I was really proud, Plum said. “There were definitely times where we didn’t make shots, but people just stayed in it. In this league, a lot of times, you just have to stay in it, and then it’s like a one or two-possession game, and anything can happen. I was really proud of the plays people made down the stretch, and it’s a growth moment for me, too, because a lot of times I was like, ‘oh, I’m supposed to shoot it.”

Most of the second half went back-and-forth as neither team led over eight. Seattle (16-16) led 87-80 with 2:52 left off a jumper by Diggins.

Sparks reached balanced scoring among their starters and coach applauded bench production. Azura Stevens dropped in a smooth 15 points and Cameron Brink shined again off the bench with double digits, scoring 14 points.

“I think we’re learning [and] not flinching, I think it took us a quarter to get the legs out from the game last night and the travel,” coach Roberts said. “You climb in bed at midnight, then you get up, and you gotta re-attack. It’s emotionally hard and these guys chose to get up and re-attack. That’s learning how to win, but not getting phased.”

The Sparks wrapped up their first back-to-back of the season, and will continue with three upcoming games in six days as they host coast rival New York Liberty on Tuesday, August 12 (7 p.m. PT) before road matchups against the Dallas Wings Aug. 15 (4:30 p.m. PT) and Washington Mystics Aug. 17 (12 p.m. PT).

Sparks survive Suns 2nd quarter surge and save wining streak, 102-91

By
Charle' Moore
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Los Angeles, CA – Dearica Hamby scored 21 points and unheralded floor general, Julie Allemand recorded her first career triple double setup by her teammates to seal Los Angeles Sparks’ victory and Allemand’s history Thursday night over the Connecticut Sun, 102-91 at Crypto Arena with a little syrup sprinkle on top by the Belgium baller to help extend her team’s win streak to four as the Sparks now have won eight of their last nine contests.

“Since the beginning of the season, I’ve been optimistic about what this team can look like, and why I want to be here, and why I’m going to continue to be here,” Hamby said. “And I know I’ve compared this team to the 2022 Aces team, just having so much firepower and being one of the fastest teams we’ve seen…So we’re not done yet, we got a lot more to accomplish, obviously, but I think Sparks basketball is back.”

Rickea Jackson was back to usual form outshining Sun defenders in the paint and around the perimeter with another 20 point effort for the game despite finding herself in foul trouble. Kelsey Plum added 18 for Los Angeles (14-15) to post another 100-plus points for the fifth time in the last six games.

Julie Allemand spoke after the game during a live TV broadcast about what Jackson was able to do to spark her team’s comeback.

“She’s done everything. She’s so amazing,” Allemand said. “I’m so glad to play with her. It’s been amazing to play with her and with everybody.”

Sparks high scoring showcased more depth with six players in double-digits. Cameron Brink had 11 points off he bench all in the second half, Azura Stevens and Allemand had 10 apiece. Allemand also had 10 rebounds and 11 assists.

“The first part of the season I had surgery, [and] it was tough to come back [from], then I went to Eurobasket and it helped me a lot,“ Allemand said. “so when I came back, I just wanted to play and be the same as I was over there. That’s what I’m doing right now and I’m feeling way more comfortable in this team. So yeah it’s been great, but the most important is the win and tonight was an important one.”

Tina Charles and Marina Mabrey each scored 19 points for Connecticut (5-24). Bria Hartley added 16 points and Leila Lacan had 10 points and seven assists.

Connecticut shot 50 percent from behind the arc in the first half to help build a 51-49 lead after going up as much as 13 in the second quarter.

“They were playing a little harder than we were down there, and they’ve got some really good rebounders,” coach Lynne Roberts said. “They had eight offensive rebounds in the first quarter and finished the first half with eight, so we did a better job, we cleaned it up. I heard that Azurá [Stevens is] top 10 in franchise history now with rebounds…The message is always, ‘if you want to score, you gotta get the ball.’ It’s hard to run and play with pace if you’re taken out of the net, right? So let’s be one and done, finish the play. If we want to win and continue to win, we’ve got to continue to rebound.”

Plum rebounded from a slow start, relegated much of the game by Saniya Rivers’ intense defense to facilitating offense for her teammates before she got it rolling in the 2nd half after making her first field goal of the game towards the end of the third quarter with a triple giving Los Angeles a 69-64 lead.

Later Plum again made Los Angeles’ 10th 3-pointer with 3:58 left in the fourth — on Julie Allemand’s 10th assist — for an 89-78 lead.

“We can see that on the court it’s getting better and better. But it’s not only about Kelsey Plum and I, I think it’s about the team and what we have to do for the team,” Allemand said. “We have to trust the process, it takes time. It’s a new group, it’s a new coach. It doesn’t come [quick], so that’s why I think now we’re healthy. So that’s why we can see the difference right now. It was the right momentum for us, and it’s been nice.”

LA hit 11 of 25 from 3-point range and made 21 of 26 at the charity stripe.

Next up, the Sparks visit the Golden State Valkyries Saturday, Aug. 9 (5:30 p.m. PT) before returning to Crypto.com Arena for a two-game homestand against the Seattle Storm Aug. 10 (5 p.m. PT)and the New York Liberty Aug. 12 (7 p.m. PT)



Aces Hold Off Valkyries in Tight 78–72 Win

By
Trisha Victorio
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Photo by Trisha Victorio / fi360 News

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The Las Vegas Aces edged the Golden State Valkyries 78–72 at the Chase Center. All-Star center A’ja Wilson led the way with 27 points, 7 rebounds. Golden State was paced by Tiffany Hayes (14 points, 9 rebounds) and Janelle Salaün (13 points).

After a back-and-forth opening half, Las Vegas surged with a 13-4 run to close the third quarter, pushing ahead 64–54. Golden State’s defense stiffened in the fourth, holding the Aces to just 16.7% shooting, but Vegas stayed afloat with timely free-throws.

Photo by Trisha Victorio / fi360 News

Rookie guard Carla Leite provided a notable spark off the bench, finishing with 11 points on 4-for-12 shooting, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists in 24 minutes. Her aggressive drives into the lane earned her extended minutes in the fourth quarter, with head coach Natalie Nakase opting to keep her in over veteran Veronica Burton. “Her composure, her ability to pick up the game plan quickly, her ability to pick up what we want from her quickly.” Leite was one of just two bench players to reach double figures, helping keep the Valkyries within striking distance.

The other, Kaila Charles, in just her third game with the Valkyries, she continued to make her presence known, delivering 11 points on an impressive 4-of-5 shooting — her second straight game in double figures.

Photo by Trisha Victorio / fi360 News

Despite these efforts, Golden State struggled from deep and tallied a season-low nine assists, limiting their offensive rhythm.

“At the end of the day, I’m fine with our girls playing their hearts out tonight. If they’re frustrated, great. Because I’m a little frustrated too. And I don’t mind a little pain.” Coach Nakase says. The loss drops the Valkyries to 14-15, trimming their playoff cushion to half a game over the Sparks with 15 games remaining. Nakase stressed the importance of sharper execution as the team navigates the final stretch, while Leite’s performance hinted at her growing role in the rotation.

Photo by Trisha Victorio / fi360 News

Sparks sustained by starters to subside Fever, 100-91 

By
Charle' Moore
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Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News

Los Angeles, CA – Returning home to Crypto Arena on Tuesday night fresh off a riveting road win against Seattle Storm, Rickea Jackson set the tone with an opening statement three, 15 seconds into the game foreshadowing what to expect in their third game against the Indiana Fever, as she later finished how she started, hitting her third triple of the game in the final quarter to score a team-high tying 25 point and help snap Indiana Fever’s five game winning streak, 100-91. 

LA snagged their seventh win of their last eight games where their starters again scored 85 percent or more of their team’s points. The Sparks became the first WNBA team in history to score 100 or more points in four games while averaging 96.8 during this five game stretch. 

Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News

“I just feel like as a group, we’re just playing together. I feel like we’re very dangerous, and our momentum and our energy is really good right now,” Rickea Jackson said during postgame press conference. “Like Coach [Lynne Roberts] said, we’re not flinching, so we just have that confidence in each other. If we get down, we’re not panicking anymore… we know what to do.”

Kelsey Plum scored 25 points and dished an impressive 11 assists for her second double-double of the season. Azurá Stevens whom battled throughout game Fever’s Aaliyah Boston alongside frontcourt teammate Dearica Hamby both were able to reach double figures, scoring 19 and 16 points, respectively.  

Plum (10) Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News

“I think the balance is what makes it tough. [Rickea Jackson is] such a tough guard, and you can put somebody smaller on her to match her athleticism or speed, or you can put somebody bigger on her to match her size, and either way, she’s going to make you wrong,” Coach Lynne Roberts said. “…I could go down the list. Dearica [Hamby] is who she is. She’s so efficient… [Azurá Stevens] was 5-for-5 from [the three-point line]…So, she might go 0-for-5, but she’s on the scouting report, ‘Do not let her shoot…’ That’s who she is. And then we’ve talked about [Kelsey Plum]… she gained so much attention from the other team’s scouting report—as she should—but she’s not trying to get hers, she’s trying to win.” 

Jackson took over for the Sparks much of the second half scoring 17 points while it was Plum and Hamby sustaining the Sparks in the first half with 14 points apiece, to close the half on a 23-8 for a 11 point advantage, 54-43 Sparks. The Sparks connected 50% from behind the arc going into intermission, led by Stevens, Jackson and Plum combining to make six out of seven.  

Prior to the game, Coach Roberts explained, how they know “they needed to defend the three-point line well as it seems the [Fever]really get going when they’re hitting from [the three-point line], and that could be from anybody, right?” 

And that anybody happen to be Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell’s remarkable range shooting, as she nailed seven trifectas for a game high 34 points. 

Coach Roberts said this prior to the game, “Everybody in this league is hard to beat. I think they’re playing really well right now, they’re a balanced team. I want to give a shout-out to Aari McDonald, I think she’s done a tremendous job there,” Coach Roberts added. “She’s really elevated their group. They’re physical, they play hard… [they’re] playing with a little more swagger and a little more confidence. They’re coming in here [as] one of the hottest teams right now, so we have our hands full.” 

Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News

Sparks indeed was unable to just cruise off in the sunset after a dominate second and third quarter as Mitchell and McDonald 

together led the charge for their team to fight back on an attempted comeback despite missing their franchise favorite three point specialist, Caitlin Clark for her eighth straight game due to injury. 

Still Fever found balance scoring with their front-court, Aaliyah Boston and Natasha Howard scoring 15 and 17 points, respectively. But it was not enough to crash Cameron Brink’s block party, tying her career high five blocks in her third game for the season, while helping to hinder Boston to continue her double-double streak. 

“That was their run. We got to defend the three. That was a flurry by them, and that’s a sign of a great team,” Coach Roberts said. “They didn’t quit… [When] we were up 22 [points], they could have folded. They didn’t, and I respect that. The lead was a little too big for it, but they hit some big shots.”

After Indiana went on a 21-5 run in the final quarter that seem triggered from a Rickea Jackson’s triple, giving the Sparks their largest lead, 90-68, Fever could not overcome the cure of Sparks savage shooting, particularly deep range as Stevens made her fifth three-pointer with less than two minutes remaining in the game to seal a nine-point win just as the Fever had cut the lead to six. 

Hamby (5) Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News

“It was a great win, and that’s something that [the team] has talked a lot about being successful on the road and not as successful at home,” Plum said. “We want to be in the playoffs. We got to win our home games. So I think you just saw a level of intensity and competitiveness, and [Rickea Jackson] wasn’t doing anything other than what she normally does.  I thought collectively as a team, we came in and it was our energy. And I think the difference between us winning and losing is really our energy and our intensity. Shots fall, shots don’t fall. But at the end of the day, we had an energy about us that won us this game.”

Los Angeles (13-15) bring their winning streak to three this season versus Indiana (17-13). They have their season finale matchup this month back in LA on August 29th. Until then, Sparks gear up for two more home games this week, Connecticut Sun on Thursday and Seattle Storm on Sunday, August 10th with Golden State Valkryies in between on Saturday, August 9th.  

Sparks slammed by Aces 89-74 led by Aja Wilson’s 37 points

By
Charle' Moore
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Jackson (2) Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News

Los Angeles, CA – Ája Wilson wasted no time with her All Star afterglow attacking the Sparks frontcourt that included spoiling Sparks sophomore Cameron Brinks’s return and going off in the first quarter for 17 of her 34 points, while her teammate Jackie Young recorded her first career triple double to help avenge their team’s earlier season home loss to the Sparks in a dominant fashion, 89 – 74 win on Tuesday night at Crypto arena, snapping the league’s current hottest team five game winning streak. 

Wilson (22) Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News

“When you’re talking about just the way our schemes are just flowing and the way that we just can get this spark with also having Jewell [Lloyd] come in off our bench,” Ája Wilson said. “It just seems like it’s just a healthy balance for us.”

Sparks fell down early in the game after the starters struggled to score and defend, 18-5. 

Brink entered the game a little under three minutes in the first quarter after missing most of last season and half of this season due to a torned ACL. Brink amassed five points in less than 15 minutes and a monstrous block from behind on Aces’ NaLyssa Smith.  

Plum (10) Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News

“I thought she did a good job to be honest, she was more comfortable out there than I anticipated her to be, just because [of] how long she’s been out, and coming in mid-season’s hard,” Coach Lynne Roberts said. “She loves basketball, so she’s finally getting a chance to be out there, and be with her teammates that she’s been watching for 13 months, and I think that’s her happy place.”  

Going up on a Tuesday the Aces shot over 60 percent in the first quarter behind Wilson perfect shooting percentage, hitting her first ten shots which consisted of one triple, mid range fadeaway jumpers plus simple aggressive, drop step layups to put her team up, 48-34 at the half.  

“[Ája Wilson] was phenomenal tonight. She was on one, and… she had an intensity to her, and [she was] determined to score,“ Coach Roberts said. “We’ve got to be better on her, and she had a heck of a game, so hats off to her. She’s a talent, and everybody in this room and elsewhere knows that. We did not do a great job on her tonight.”

Dearica Hamby, who was named Western Conference player of the week scored the first basket in the third though she had a somewhat tough night on both ends, scoring below her average for 15 points. Her former Aces teammate and current Sparks teammate, Kelsey Plum, scored 22 points, mostly in the second half despite being ice cold from the three, missing all six attempts. 

Hamby (5) Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News

Rae Burrell came off the bench, providing high energy with a triple almost midway through the third, making the score 55-40. 

“I feel like the team did a good job in just preparing me for coming back,” Burrell said. “I just try to bring the same thing every night. I try to bring in some energy, whatever the team needs me to bring and whether that’s getting offensive rebounds, being aggressive on offense, defense, just whatever the team needs me to do…”

Burrell knocked down her second triple in the fourth en route to a season high of 17. Sparks cut the deficit down but not enough to get over the double digits hump with the score, 83-66, Aces advantage.  

“You always need to work hard, no matter the score, and I’m always trying to bring that energy,” Rae Burrell said. “I think it’s—just playing through the clock, through the buzzer, just [playing] hard til the game’s over.”

Brink (22) Photo by DeAngelo Scruggs / fi360 News

Dana Evans came off the bench for the Aces and was the only other player in double figures for her team with 10 points besides Young and Wilson. For the second straight game, Lloyd came off the bench, dropping a deep dagger to clinch any hope of a Sparks comeback, 86-66. 

“These last couple games, we’ve looked more like what I’ve expected us to look like,” coach Becky Hammon said. “It’s taken longer than what I thought it would. However, I’m happy that it’s arriving.”

The Sparks heads Northwest for a matchup against the Seattle Storm on August 1st at 7 p.m., PT. Then Los Angeles returns to Crypto.com Arena for back to back games to face the Indiana Fever August 5th at 7 p.m.  and Connecticut Sun August 7 at 7p.m., respectively. 

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