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)