Nneka Ogwumike scored seven of her game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter and grabbed nine rebounds as the Los Angeles Sparks defeated the host Seattle Storm 88-83 on Wednesday night in a Commissioner’s Cup game.
Kelsey Plum added 19 points and 11 assists for the Sparks (6-6, 2-2 Commissioner’s Cup). Cameron Brink added 15 points off the bench and Erica Wheeler scored 10.
Natisha Hiederman overcame a slow start to lead the Storm (3-11, 0-5) with 16 points. Dominique Malonga added 15, rookie Flau’jae Johnson had 14 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, Awa Fam scored 12 and Jordan Horston had 11.
The Sparks shot 38.7% from the field (29 of 75), including 9 of 35 from 3-point range. The Storm shot 46.9% (30 of 64) and were 9 of 29 from distance.
Hiedeman missed a potential tying 3-pointer with 6.3 seconds to go. Wheeler made two free throws with 1.6 seconds remaining for the final margin.
The Sparks’ Dearica Hamby opened the third quarter with a layup to break a halftime tie before Seattle scored 11 straight points – with Hiedeman capping the run with a long jumper and a 3-pointer – for a 51-42 lead.
Brink made two free throws and a layup off an offensive rebound to pull the Sparks within 67-66 entering the fourth.
Malonga made a turnaround jumper and a 3-pointer in the opening minute of the game before Horston added a jumper to give the Storm an early 7-0 lead 2:12 in.
The Sparks responded with a 10-0 run thanks to back-to-back 3-pointers by Plum.
After Seattle tied it at 14-14, Brink scored eight straight points on her own — including a three-point play and a 3-pointer — to give L.A. its largest lead of the period
Horston closed the quarter with a 3-pointer to pull Seattle within 22-17.
Plum made a pair of driving layups to give the Sparks a 34-25 lead with 3:56 left in the first half.
Malonga made two jumpers and Johnson added a 3-pointer and a jumper in an 11-0 streak as Seattle regained the lead at 36-34 with 1:07 left.
Rae Burrell hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to forge the halftime tie.
–Field Level Media
