Sparks end losing streak with win over Caitlin

For the first time in more than two weeks, the Sparks gained a sport.

Nneka Ogwumike scored 24 factors with eight rebounds, Rae Burrell added 22 factors and Dearica Hamby had 21 in what felt like a close to must-win sport against Indiana on Wednesday evening to snap a three-game losing streak, 106-92.

“I think people were tired of how we were losing,” Ogwumike said. “Not just losing, but how we were losing, and we knew that there was more that we could give…. I think we all individually held ourselves accountable to be able to do more, to pour more into what we got going on. I took it upon myself to try my best to like you know play harder in possessions.”

The Fever dedicated 17 turnovers, which the Sparks (Sep 11) transformed into 22 factors, and All-Star Caitlin Clark scored her second-fewest factors this season with just 9 in restricted minutes while returning from injury. Kelsey Mitchell scored 29 factors for the Fever, but the Sparks appeared to have an offensive reply each time.

Indiana (12-9) was without star middle Aliyah Boston (decrease proper leg), who Fever coach Stephanie White said would play in the second sport of a back-to-back set Thursday in Phoenix. Clark, in and out of the lineup because of a back injury all season, never acquired going and was an abysmal minus-16.

Coming off an 18-point loss to Seattle at home on Monday, Ogwumike said that injured All-Star guard Kelsey Plum gave the crew an impressed speech Tuesday.

“Everyone had a little bit of feedback that she gave, both encouragement and also points of improvement for each person, and I think it was received,” Ogwumike said. “It was received in a way that not only did we want to change how we, you know, approach today, but also to familiarize ourselves with sustaining the way that this feels moving forward.”

“KP lit a fire under our ass,” Burrell added.

All 5 Sparks starters scored in double digits, and the 106 factors have been the most the franchise has ever scored in a home sport.

“I’m happy we won, obviously, but I’m more happy with how we played,” coach Lynne Roberts said. “The response that we showed from just laying an egg on Monday to coming back and and you know we talked about playing more connected, having a little more smarts out there, defensively emptying the tank, getting out and running and playing with pace.”

The Sparks rode a 16-2 run halfway through the second quarter to lead by as many as eight before the half.

They didn’t slow down going into the third body, opening with 18 factors in the first 5 minutes to take a 13-point lead. Burrell and Kiana Williams hit consecutive threes late in the third after the Fever cut the lead to eight factors, and it was never close again.

Plum (decrease left leg) and middle Cameron Brink (left ankle) remained out of the lineup, and the Sparks prolonged their bench to give important minutes to Alissa Pili, Jihyun Park and Williams.

Pili, signed to a developmental deal this week, scored 4 factors with 5 rebounds in her first WNBA motion since last September because of a proper ankle injury.

Wednesday’s win also snapped a three-game losing streak to the Fever courting to last season.

The Sparks will full their three-game homestand against Chicago (7-14) on Friday.

“We wanted to play harder,” Ogwumike said. “We wanted to own each possession and to compete at every level for the full 40 minutes of play. It’s really that simple. I think when, when you put your heart into playing that hard, the schemes, the plays, the execution, it comes to fruition. And tonight, it felt good. It felt good emptying the tank.”