Yo, what a day in LA! The Sparks just went absolutely off, dropping a huge 105-84 win on the Fire to seal their sixteenth victory this season. And get this, they did it all on a day celebrating the LEGEND, Lisa Leslie, with her statue unveiling! Talk about making a festive day even more special. This wasn’t just a win, it was a statement on a monumental afternoon.
Early Fire, Then the Sparks Ignite
Things actually started a little tense. Portland’s Emily Engstler kicked things off, hitting a smooth jumper to get the Fire on the board first. Not gonna lie, for a second there, I was like, “uh oh, is this gonna be one of those games?” But then, shoutout to Emma Cannon! She’s stepping in for the injured Dearica Hamby in the starting five, and she immediately answered with a MONEY triple for LA. You love to see that immediate impact! Nneka Ogwumike then converted on a three-point play, pushing Los Angeles’ lead. Initially, neither team looked super dominant offensively, with Carla Leite and Karlie Samuelson combining for 12 of Portland’s first 16 points. The Fire even took the lead for a hot second, but Rae Burrell immediately slammed it shut with a triple that put the Sparks back in front. Seriously, that Rae Burrell shot was huge! With Cameron Brink out, our bench came up clutch, adding 12 points in the first quarter alone. By the end of the first, the purple and gold were up by two.
Second Quarter Explosion Puts Fire on Ice
The second period? That’s when the Sparks really started to cook. Erica Wheeler knocked down a three-pointer to open the quarter, and the team was just feeling it from deep, shooting 42% from beyond the arc in the entire half. Frieda Buhner tried to respond with a triple for Portland, but LA was on a mission. Emma Cannon kept pushing, leading the Sparks with seven points, while Nneka wasn’t far behind with six after a pair of free throws. At the 5:58 mark, LA was up by seven, and then the floodgates OPENED. Los Angeles went on an insane 12-0 scoring run, just stomping on the gas! Nyadiew Puoch finally stopped it with a triple for Portland, but the damage was done. Rae Burrell kept pouring it on, scoring 10 points in the quarter alone, bringing her total to 13 for the half. Portland tried to rally, scoring six straight, but the Sparks had an answer for everything. They ended the half on a ridiculous 27-10 scoring run, capped by another Cannon triple as the clock wound down. At halftime, LA was up by a massive 19 points! That second quarter was a masterclass.
Sparks Keep the Pressure On
The second half started exactly how you’d want it, with Nneka extending LA’s lead with a layup early in the third. Megan DiLeo converted two free throws for Portland’s first points of the quarter, but it barely made a dent. Despite Leite starting the period with six points, Los Angeles still held a huge lead, thanks in part to a pair of clutch triples from Wheeler. The Sparks were playing truly dominant basketball, pushing their lead to 24 points and forcing the Fire to call a timeout. Out of the break, Atkins fouled Charisma Osborne, sending her to the charity stripe where she converted on both free throws. Portland managed to score five straight points, slowly shaving some off their deficit, but LA ended the third quarter still up by a comfortable 20. This team just wasn’t letting up.
The Sparks are rolling, and this game proved they’ve got the depth and the firepower to make every day a celebration. They made Lisa Leslie’s day unforgettable, and you gotta feel good about that kind of momentum!
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