The Los Angeles Sparks dropped their third straight game on Saturday, falling 80-70 to the Washington Mystics. And honestly, it was a gut punch, echoing a pattern we’ve seen way too much. They led for much of the second half, even getting up by as many as six points in the final frame. But you know how this story goes: the Sparks couldn’t execute down the stretch. Washington chipped away, built their own multi-possession lead, and just like that, the purple and gold are looking at their 10th loss in the last 12 games. This team is in a serious tailspin right now.
Brink’s Absence Looms Large As They Try To Get Going
Right from the jump, we knew this was going to be tough. Cameron Brink was out, sidelined with a rib injury suffered in that tough loss to the Liberty. That’s a huge blow, no two ways about it! But credit where it’s due, Nneka Ogwumike came out hot, getting the offense rolling early for LA with a sweet runner down the paint. She led the Sparks with seven points initially and was up to ten before you knew it. Tonie Morgan and Emma Cannon also gave us some solid minutes off the bench, combining for nine points and showing some fight. On the Mystics side, Michaela Onyenwere got them on the board, and Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron combined for nine points, with Iriafen quickly hitting double figures for Washington. Still, at the end of the first period, the Sparks were only down by three. It felt like they had a shot.
The Fight, The Fire, and The Fourth Quarter Fizzle
The second quarter actually started with some serious momentum! Alissa Pili, making her first appearance in over a month, drained a triple to get things going. Dearica Hamby then put Los Angeles ahead with a layup. But that lead didn’t last long, as Cotie McMahon went on a personal scoring run for Washington, taking control right back. Despite a few missed shots, LA stayed in the fight, shooting 44% from the field and keeping it close. Rae Burrell really started catching fire, knocking down her second triple to cut the deficit to just two points at halftime. And talk about an exciting start to the third period: Erica Wheeler and Burrell hit back-to-back triples, followed by another Hamby layup that forced Washington into an early timeout! Burrell was absolutely cooking, pushing into double figures with 11 points. But here’s the harsh truth that killed them: the battle in the paint was unbelievably one-sided, with the Mystics owning it 34-16. You just can’t win consistently when you’re getting dominated inside like that, no matter how many triples you hit.
This loss, especially blowing a six-point lead in the fourth, is brutal. It’s the same old story playing out again, conceding a big run right when the game’s on the line. With Cameron Brink out and this team unable to execute late, you gotta wonder what’s next for a squad that’s now dropped ten of its last twelve. Can they dig themselves out of this hole, or is this spiral just getting started?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
Leave a Reply