Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles Sparks opened their first home game on Monday night of a three game homestead this week with a quick basket 13 seconds from the tip that suddenly switched into a game taken by the Seattle Storm, 82-64 led by Flau’jae Johnson’s first quarter sharp shooting to finish with a game high 23 points.
Sparks have lost three straight games and came into tonight’s game with the loss of two players within past few days including another Sparks Gamecock draft lottery pick, TaNiya Latson. Prior, undrafted player, Laura Zeilger, got release in tandem to Sparks resigning a former player from end of last season, Alissa Pilli.
Earlier in pregame presser, Head Coach Lynne Roberts shared about how the team felt after the current roster changes.
“It’s been really good. I know some teams when you go through adversity you struggle with chemistry issues or lack of buy-in or distrust or second guessing and we don’t have any of that,” coach Roberts said to FI360News. “The players trust the coaches, the coaches trust them, and there’s an understanding that we just have to grind through this. We just got to figure it out. And that’s life. That’s sports, and that’s where we’re at right now. But, I’ve been impressed with them, and that’s why I have the confidence I do.”
While coach Roberts remains confident, her team seem to be still figuring it out even though some of those time expired as the team will have more time to continue learning how to win without their franchise star Kelsey Plum or their highest draft lottery pick to date, Cameron Brink.
“We just weren’t good offensively, and I didn’t anticipate cause the vibe was good,” coach Roberts said. “The players were in it. We had a great week and maybe it was that. I don’t know. We just didn’t have it on offense, and I don’t know what else to say other than that.”
Seattle seized taking advantage of their confusion by snagging their second road win of the season.
Johnson dropped 13 points in the first quarter including three triples to pull Seattle ahead 20-15. The Storm led 48-37 at the break after holding the Sparks to 16.7% shooting from 3-point range.
“Defensively, we had the second quarter, which was not good. Other than that, we weren’t bad,” coach Roberts said. “It was giving them those transition points that I thought opened the game up for them. We held them to 82; 20, 20, 14 in those other three quarters. That’s not bad. I didn’t think that defense was why we lost.”
Dearica Hamby did what she does typically hustling to put 17 points on the board for Los Angeles (9-10), while her fellow post-mate Nneka Ogwumike added 14 points and 11 rebounds against her former team.
Jade Melbourne had 11 points for Seattle (6-17). Katie Lou Samuelson scored nine points on three 3-pointers and Awa Fam had four of Seattle’s 14 steals.
Los Angeles scored just eight points in the third quarter as Seattle extended their lead to 20, 68-48. Sparks were held to their fewest points of this season after coming out of halftime.
“I think we were for the most part doing our best to make sure that they couldn’t play inside,” Ogumike said to FI360News during post presser. “I’m not sure if we’re really where we need to be when we recognize our own matchups on offense, you know, and understanding where the shots are coming from, where the best advantage is… I think that’s something that we have room for improvement.”
Despite Los Angeles shortcomings they were not short of support and celebrities’ spotting in attendance such as Actress Tia Mowry, Hall of Famer Dawn Staley, Hall of Famer Cheryl Miller, NBA Champion Kevin Durant, season regulars Leslie Jones and Gina Prince-Bythewood, respectively.
“The best thing about this league, also the hardest thing, but the best thing is that you have to turn the page,” Coach Roberts said. “I thought Seattle played well. Credit them. They played hard and made shots. We missed shots. We’ve got to turn the page and just keep plowing through. We just have to keep pushing through.”
Los Angeles next home game will be on Wednesday as they host the Indiana Fever.