Another one bites the dust, man. The Sparks just dropped their fourth straight game in a tough 90-82 loss to the Dallas Wings on Sunday. This team is hurting, and with Kelsey Plum still sidelined, every close contest feels like a gut punch. They are getting solid performances, but it’s just not enough to get over the hump right now.
A Start That Promised So Much, Then Fell Apart
Early on, it actually looked like the Sparks were ready to turn things around! Nneka Ogwumike kicked things off with a midrange jumper. Then Dearica Hamby, who was an absolute force all game, dropped a layup to grab a four-point lead. But just like that, Dallas fired back with five straight points. Awak Kuier was on fire early with four quick points, and suddenly the Wings were up by three at the 4:51 mark. Then Azzi Fudd started raining triples, hitting two huge shots, and Los Angeles was in a deep hole. Hamby and Erica Wheeler tried to claw their way back, getting it to a two-point game, but then boom, back-to-back three-point plays for the Wings. The first quarter ended with LA down 27-17, and a dreadful 1-7 from beyond the arc as a team. Talk about a rough start to the morning!
Fighting Back, Just Not Enough Punch
The second quarter tried to bring some life. Jihyun Park started strong for the Sparks with an impressive layup, though Aziaha James instantly answered on the other end. Wheeler kept pushing, igniting for four quick points for Los Angeles. After a timeout, Nneka got on the board again with a basket. Paige Bueckers was quietly putting up big numbers, hitting 12 points mostly from inside the arc. Chance Gray drained her second much-needed three-pointer for LA. The turnovers were still piling up, eight in the half, though not yet double digits. Hamby, Park, and Ariel Atkins then combined for six crucial points as the half was winding down, cutting the deficit to six at halftime. It felt like they were absolutely still in it, just six points down.
Hamby’s Heroics Can’t Save the Day
The third quarter began, and Dearica Hamby was still playing like a beast! Another layup to start, though Fudd responded instantly with a jumper. Hamby continued her dominant play, scoring on a hook shot, pushing her point total to 12 points. Rae Burrell, the franchise’s leading scorer, joined the action with a layup of her own. Suddenly, at the 5:54 mark, the purple and gold were down by just one! Nneka even pushed the Sparks into the lead with a basket inside. Both teams exchanged the lead as the quarter was winding down, and it truly felt like Los Angeles had all the momentum. But then the Wings just stomped on the gas pedal, and that was that. Ugh, just brutal.
This four-game slide is absolutely brutal for the Sparks, especially with Plum out. They are getting big nights from players like Burrell, Ogwumike, and Hamby, but it’s just not enough right now. They desperately need Plum back if they want to stop this skid and turn their season around. What happens next game? Can they snap out of it? It’s going to be a tough road if they can’t.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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