The Los Angeles Sparks scored a franchise home record 106 points, beating the Indiana Fever 106-92 on Wednesday to snap a three-game losing streak and spoil Caitlin Clark‘s return from injury.
Nneka Ogwumike led five Sparks in double figures with 24 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Coach Lynne Roberts said the response, one night after a lopsided loss, mattered more to her than the final score.
Advertisement
“I’m happy we won, obviously, but I’m more happy with how we played,” Roberts said. “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. We had 27 fast-break points. We were rebounding and running, and that’s what we want to do.”
The 106 points were the most Los Angeles has scored in a home game in franchise history, topping a 105-point output against the San Antonio Stars, and the fifth-most in team history overall. The Sparks shot 50.6% from the field, 45.0% from 3-point range, and 85.0% from the free-throw line as a team.
Rae Burrell scored 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting for her third 20-point game of the season, the most of her career, and Dearica Hamby added 21 points, nine rebounds, and a game-high four steals. Ariel Atkins scored 12 points and passed 3,500 for her career on a first-quarter 3-pointer, and Erica Wheeler also had 12. Ogwumike’s night was the 154th 20-point game of her career, fifth-most in WNBA history.
Roberts said the bench, which included Alissa Pili in her first game back in seven months, was a major factor.
Advertisement
“Kiana’s push and pace, getting us organized and doing a really good job on Tyasha Harris or whoever she was guarding, with a couple big shots,” Roberts said. “Pili came in and did a good job. She hasn’t played the game in seven months, but it was great to have her physicality out there. And Emma came in and hit that big three when we were down. We really needed it.”
Los Angeles trailed early before a 12-0 run in the second quarter put it ahead 40-34, and a 7-2 start to the third pushed the lead to 55-43. The Sparks led 82-71 entering the fourth and pulled away from there.
Clark, playing for the first time in two games after a back injury, scored nine points in 16 minutes. Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana (12-9) with 29 points, and Lexie Hull added 14, Damiris Dantas 12, and Tyasha Harris 10. Aliyah Boston sat out with a right leg injury, and Sophie Cunningham was limited after pregame back spasms.
Hull said the absence of Boston, combined with 17 Indiana turnovers that Los Angeles converted into 22 points, broke the Fever’s defense down.
Advertisement
“Not having AB definitely hurt us because she is such a presence defensively,” Hull said. “We could not get set on defense because of our turnovers. Those turnovers ruined our momentum and gave them leak-out layups. All of their starters scored more than 10 points, and that is something we cannot allow.”
Mitchell said the defensive letdown was the root of Indiana’s offensive struggles as well.
“Flow is always disjointed and disoriented when you do not defend,” Mitchell said. “If you are taking the ball out of the net every possession, you are going to be discombobulated. We shot ourselves in the foot because we could not find a decent offensive flow, but that was a testament to how poor our defense was.”
Coach Stephanie White said Boston’s absence changed everything defensively, and that reintegrating Clark added another layer of difficulty.
Advertisement
“AB is our anchor, communicator and rim protector. She does a lot for us,” White said. “Not having her matters, and we also did not have Sophie early because she locked up before warmups. But more than anything, collectively, our team defensive effort, rotations and ability to have each other’s back were not there consistently.”
Indiana visits the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday. Los Angeles continues its homestand Friday against the Chicago Sky.
WNBA Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things WNBA. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.
