In an alternate universe, the Sparks’ win over Chicago on Friday could have been a barometer to indicate whether general manager Raegan Pebley’s gamble to trade Rickea Jackson to the Sky paid off.
Jackson didn’t get a chance for revenge after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament in May, making the Sparks’ 102-87 win at Crypto.com Arena not a true litmus test. Veteran guard Ariel Atkins, who was shipped out of Chicago in the Jackson deal, had her best game with the Sparks, finishing with a season-high 17 points.
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The Sparks showcased their potential en route to their second straight win, even with All-Star Kelsey Plum (lower left leg) and Cameron Brink (left ankle) out. Nneka Ogwumike, the Sparks’ other All-Star, posted 25 points and 12 rebounds, and Erica Wheeler had 15 points and eight assists.
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Still a game under .500, the Sparks (10-11) have a long way to go to be considered serious postseason contenders. Chicago also has struggled mightily outside of a win against Phoenix this week and has been engulfed in drama around veteran guard Skylar Diggins, who sat out because of a knee injury.
After a disaster against Seattle on Monday, the Sparks easily could have spiraled. Instead, their season has life.
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For the second straight game, all five Sparks starters scored in double digits. After the Sparks opened on a 10-2 run, Chicago (7-15) stormed back to keep it tight throughout the second quarter. The Sparks led 73-70 after three quarters before pulling away midway through the fourth.
Ogwumike scored nine of her points in the fourth to carry the Sparks across the finish line.
The Sparks scored 25 points off 15 Sky turnovers and posted a season-high 32 assisted baskets. They shot 51% from the field.
Veteran forward Emma Cannon played 12 minutes and scored nine points as a key post presence late when Chicago’s Kamilla Cardoso was in foul trouble. But it wasn’t enough to move Chicago back into the game.
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Ogwumike moved into fifth on the Sparks’ all-time assists list with her third helper in the first quarter, passing Mwadi Mabika.
The Sparks are half a game outside the final playoff spot, not bad given how poor some of their performances have been this season.
The Sparks head to Atlanta (13-9) to face a slumping Dream squad on Monday.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
