The Riverside Press-Enterprise
Ogwumike hits milestone in loss Up next:
LOS ANGELES » It was an impressive, yet unsustainable start for the Sparks against the reigning WNBA champion Chicago Sky on Thursday night, but it ended with an 80-68 loss at home.
The Sparks (10-14) have lost their past three games. They led 9-4 early in the first quarter but ended up shooting 39.4% from the field for the game. The Sky shot 48.5% from the field and 42.1% from 3.
The Sparks took a 17-16 lead into the second quarter and were energized by the return of All-star forward Nneka Ogwumike, who had missed the previous game, a 94-81 loss to the Washington Mystics, due to a noncovid-related illness.
Ogwumike had 16 points and eight rebounds against the Sky and joined Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker as one of three players to score 5,000 points in a Sparks uniform. However, the Sky (186) found their groove during a 19-7 run to begin the second quarter.
The Sparks were without starting center Liz Cambage, who did not play after being placed in health and safety protocols Thursday.
Sparks interim head coach Fred Williams knew the team would miss the 6-foot-9 center’s presence, but he was looking forward
SKY 80, SPARKS 68
THE SCORE
Fever at Sparks, Tuesday, 7:30p.m., Specsn
to strong play from the Ogwumike sisters. In 30 minutes of playing time, Chiney Ogwumike recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
“Those two young ladies do a great job complementing each other with the highlow pass,” Williams said in a pregame interview. “Defensively, they’re in tune with each other and they’re just great leaders.”
Sky All-star center and former Sparks player Parker was scoreless with nine rebounds at halftime, but the Sparks still trailed 3728 at the break. Parker finished with zero points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks and a steal in 27 minutes.
Sky coach James Wade said it was vital for him not to put any pressure on Parker in her second game back at Crypto.com Arena.
“When a player has been so great for so long, you let their motivation be their motivation, especially in a place where she practically built,” Wade said. “I just try to get out of her way, give her the game plan and coach her just like I coach everybody else. But at a certain point it’s a big trust that’s there and you allow her to express herself when she gets on the floor.”