Sparks knock Sun out of top spot in WNBA

LOS ANGELES — Riquna Williams scored 21 points as the Los Angeles Sparks defeated Connecticut 84-72 on Sunday afternoon, knocking the Sun out of the top spot in the WNBA standings.

The Sun (20-9) had a four-game winning streak snapped and dropped a game behind the Washington Mystics (21-8) for the league’s best record.

Courtney Williams had 18 points, nine rebounds and five assists for the Sun, recording her 29th game in double figures this season. Jonquel Jones added 16 points and 12 rebounds — her 15th double-double of the season — and Shekinna Stricklen scored 12 points. Stricklen reached the 2,000-point career milestone, finishing the game with 2,002.

Sun point guard Jasmine Thomas had 10 points and five assists and moved past Danielle Robinson on the WNBA’s all-time assists list. She now has 1,083 in her career, which ranks No. 22 all time. She also holds the No. 2 spot in assists in Sun history with 764, only sitting behind Lindsay Whalen (964).

Nneka Ogwumike scored 16 points for the Sparks (18-10) and reached the 4,000-point career milestone early in the game. She is 38th player to reach that mark and the 14th fastest (244 games).

Candace Parker added 13 points for Los Angeles, and Chelsea Gray scored 12. Parker had five assists and passed Vickie Johnson (1,205) into 15th among the WNBA’s career assists leaders, finishing the game with 1,208.

The Sun continue their three-game road trip Tuesday against the Storm in Seattle with a 10 p.m. tipoff.

Then, after facing the New York Liberty on Friday night in White Plains, the Sun will return home to host the Dallas Wings at 7 p.m. Sept. 4 at Mohegan Sun Arena.