Furious Sparks comeback fades in final minute of

Coming off their best win of the season in Minnesota on Thursday, the Sparks didn’t have a lot of that same power to start their first home sport since the commerce deadline.

The fourth quarter, though, appeared a lot just like the best basketball they’ve performed all season.

The Sparks got here out flat and gave up 29 first-quarter factors from the Golden State Valkyries in an 84-78 loss Sunday, their eighth in the last 10 video games. They made it a sport in the fourth with a 16-5 run but have been too far back and it took just a couple of Valkyries pictures to put the sport out of attain.

“I think today was kind of more of a mind over matter type of day,” Sparks ahead Nneka Ogwumike said. “I don’t want to use the schedule as an excuse as pros, like I’ve been doing this a long time. There’s always a point in the season when the schedule gets like this, and so I think today was a bit more mind over matter, and it took us a little bit of time to kind of get into the game.

“I am happy that we didn’t just acquiesce to the results of the first quarter. So, yeah, you really just kind of have to get that focus and lock in.”

An Ariel Atkins three-pointer with 2:18 left acquired the Sparks within one level, then after it was matched by Golden State, a three from Erica Wheeler made it a one-point contest again with 1:38 to go.

Ogwumike missed what would have been a tying shot with 52 seconds left before the Valkyries made it a two-possession rating to close it out.

Wheeler missed two three-point makes an attempt with less than 30 seconds left. She completed with 15 factors while Ogwumike completed with a team-high 16 factors.

There are 13 video games left in the season and the Sparks are six video games back of Dallas for the eighth and final WNBA playoff seed, giving them an uphill climb to get back in the postseason dialog.

On Sunday, the Sparks (12-19) dedicated 5 early turnovers and struggled to defend the perimeter against the shot-happy Valkyries, trailing 29-15 after one quarter.

After getting back within 9, the Sparks have been down 45-32 at halftime following three consecutive buckets from Golden State guard Tiffany Hayes.

Cameron Brink hit a three-pointer to get back within 12 with 7:27 left in the fourth. The Sparks outscored Golden State 31-20 total in the fourth to get back within 4 with less than 4 minutes to play.

“We made adjustments to try to space the floor out a little bit more,” Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said. “I think we were on top of each other. I think we needed to start to play this higher. We did that, and we activated Nneka too, as well. I think in the beginning, she barely touched the ball, or the shots weren’t going in. We got her shots, and once Nneka’s going, and Dearica [Hamby]’s going, the game is a little different.”

Brink, who had seven factors, seven rebounds and two steals, acquired into foul hassle in the third quarter, going into the fourth with 4. Rae Burrell, who had scored in double figures in every sport since July 22, didn’t rating until the fourth quarter and completed with 9 factors.

“Against Golden State, you’re going to have a hard time attacking from the wings,” Roberts said. “You got to do it from the middle. Their defense is really on point.”

The Valkyries capitalized with 18 factors off the Sparks’ 11 turnovers.

Kiana Williams scored 10 factors, her most since she joined the group from Phoenix in June off of a developmental deal.

“Thank goodness she was there in the first quarter, because I don’t know how many we would have scored,” Roberts said. “But I respect that she hasn’t played in the last couple games, and she came in and was fearless and ready to go.”

The Sparks haven’t overwhelmed Golden State (23-9) since a 84-67 victory on May 16, 2025, the first sport in Valkyries franchise historical past.

On Sunday, the Valkyries have been led by 15 factors from Cecilia Zandalasini, who shot 5 for 5 from three-point vary.

After she scored seven factors against Minnesota, newly acquired guard Monique Akoa Makani missed Sunday’s sport with a proper ankle injury she sustained in the final minute against the Lynx.

The Sparks will host Phoenix (12-22) in Kelsey Plum’s return to L.A. on Tuesday at USC’s Galen Center.

“We fought like hell out there,” Wheeler said. “Golden State is a great team. They play great defense. So for us to be able to execute down the stretch in the fourth quarter … that’s not easy to do.”