Dallas, Tx, The Los Angeles Sparks cooked the Dallas Wings in their arena 93-79 on Friday night to snap a three-game losing skid led by Azurá Stevens’ 21 points, whom came undone with a career-high five threes, and Dearica Hamby serving across the paint for 20 points, following a three day practice break in between games.
“We were intentional with rest and giving high-minute players, less reps in practice, or just a little time off,” Coach Lynne Roberts said. “but it was a good reset and it was a good reset for me. To be able to hone in on what we were running that was working and what wasn’t, now, I feel like I understand these players a lot better…[to] play to their strengths.”
This was the first time of the season, LA shot as a team over 50 percent for a game while their starting front court, Stevens and Hamby delivered over 20 points for the fourth time.
“I’ve been playing with [Dearica Hamby] now [for] my third year, and I think we complement each other really well,” Stevens explained. “We have similar skill sets, we’re both really active defensively and offensively, and it’s been great playing with her.”
In addition, Odyssey Sims, who appeared full of excitement to return and play in Dallas against her former team after posting 32 points in their previous game against Phoenix, dropped 19 points including multiple “and 1s” plus three triples.
“It’s always good to come home. I feel like the fans, they love me like I never left. But I will say I’m happy where I am,” Sims explained. I think I’m here for a reason. I finally found a home. I love my teammates, no shade to Dallas at all.… I love this coaching staff.”
LA held a 45-40 lead at halftime after Sims completed her first three-point play to close out the first half with less than 3 seconds remaining. Sims scored nine points at halftime, Stevens, 13 and Hamby added 11.
The Sparks opened the third quarter on a 11-0 run and repeated another strong start in the fourth with a 9-0 run taking a 76-55 advantage.
“They’re adapting well. It takes time, but I think we can look back at a couple of our really close losses and not really blame our offense,“ coach Roberts said pregame press conference. “We’ve got to get stops. So right now, I’m looking for us to just lock in a little bit with a little more urgency defensively…If you look at a couple weeks ago to now, everything’s clicking better. People are figuring out their roles, where their shots come from, and how they can help add to winning, but now we need everybody to add to winning on the defensive side.”
The Sparks locked in their defense, seemingly listening to their coach’s pregame, especially in the third quarter when they limited the Wings to only 15 points.
Dallas played without their two primary offense facilitators, including top draft pick, Paige Bueckers, while committing three turnovers and having no answers for the Sparks opening run in the fourth.
Coach Roberts shared how her team won every quarter this game as Kelsey Plum facilitated more for her teammates on tonight, including a highlight dish to Stevens to make her career high 3-pointer on a wide-open shot from the corner off her nice drive.
Plum added 11 points, five rebounds and nine assists still short thus far of reaching her goal for double digits in assists
and Rickea Jackson return to scoring double figures, raking in 10 for her first game back since missing their last game due to personal reasons.
“Rickea [Jackson] looks great. She’s had three really, really good days of practice, so she’s back in the starting lineup, which is awesome,” coach Roberts said during pregame press conference. “We’re a better team with her present.”
For Dallas, DiJonai Carrington led all scorers with 16 points. JJ Quinerly had a career-high 14, Luisa Geiselsoder had 11 points and 10 rebounds for her first double-double. Kaila Charles added 10 points.
Dallas (1-8) has allowed 90-plus points three times during its four-game losing streak. LA (3-6) recorded a season-high with 93 points and led by as many as 24 points in the fourth quarter.
The Sparks return home to play the Golden State Valkyries for the fourth time this season after an upsetting loss at home on Monday, June 9, 7pm.
