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The Los Angeles Sparks headed into the WNBA All-Star break on a high note, snapping a 13-game losing streak against the Connecticut Sun with a hard-fought 92–88 victory at Crypto.com Arena.
By Earl Heath & Sara Medina | Contributing Sports Writers
The Los Angeles Sparks headed into the WNBA All-Star break on a high note, snapping a 13-game losing streak against the Connecticut Sun with a hard-fought 92–88 victory at Crypto.com Arena.
Stevens and Plum Lead the Charge
Kelsey Plum led the way for the Sparks with 23 points, including 18 in the second half, while Azurá Stevens delivered a strong double-double performance with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Stevens, who continues to fly under the radar despite her consistent impact, addressed being underrated:
“I am so appreciative of my teammates and Coach Lynne . From Day One, they’ve just believed in me, and I think we can see that on the court. They’re always finding me in really good spots,” she said.
“But I don’t play for . I play for the team. I play for the Sparks. I play for my family, myself… My goal this year is to be consistent. So, respectfully, I don’t care what the media thinks. I’m just trying to do my job and play hard for these guys and for other people.”
Supporting Cast Steps Up
Rookie forward Rickea Jackson added 19 points in her 50th career start, while Dearica Hamby contributed 17. It was a balanced team effort, with four Sparks players scoring 15 or more points for just the third time this season—a formula that has them 2–1 in such games.
On the Sun’s side, Bria Hartley poured in a season-high 25 points, and rookie Saniya Rivers added a career-best 20.
Turning Point in the Third
The game swung in the Sparks’ favor after trailing late in the first half. Connecticut held a 49–41 lead with under two minutes left, but L.A. closed the half with a quick 6-0 run to make it 49–47 at the break.
Stevens sparked a 10–1 run early in the third quarter—draining two 3-pointers—before Plum capped it off with a layup to put the Sparks ahead 57–50. They never trailed again.
Burrell Brings the Energy
Coach Lynne Roberts praised Rae Burrell’s return to the lineup, highlighting her impact beyond the stat sheet.
“She brings energy—in the locker room, on the floor—she’s just the energizer bunny,” said Roberts. “She puts pressure on the defense, pressure on the rim. She’s so athletic… I feel like she’s getting into a groove.”
Looking Ahead
Now 8–14 on the season, the Sparks head into a crucial three-game East Coast road swing following the All-Star break. They’ll face the Washington Mystics on July 22 (4:30 p.m. PT), return to Connecticut on July 24 (4 p.m. PT), and close the trip against the New York Liberty on July 26 (4 p.m. PT).