Sparks Soar Past Storm in Wire-to-Wire Victory Ahead of FIBA Break
In a commanding performance at Climate Pledge Arena, the Los Angeles Sparks defeated the Seattle Storm 90-74 on Sunday, securing a wire-to-wire victory in their final game before the FIBA World Cup break. The Sparks set the tone early, scoring the first 13 points and racing to an 18-2 lead. By halftime, they had built a 19-point cushion, thanks to a stifling defense that limited Seattle to just 32% shooting from the field and 18% from beyond the arc.
Nneka Ogwumike led the charge with 23 points and 12 rebounds, marking a strong return to Seattle, where she played for the Storm before departing in the offseason. Rae Burrell added 22 points, while Dearica Hamby’s layup late in the second quarter capped an 11-0 run that extended the lead to 39-20. The Storm, who trailed by as many as 26 points, mounted a late rally, cutting the deficit to 80-69 with 4:34 remaining on a layup by Johnson, but the Sparks’ early dominance proved insurmountable.
Seattle struggled to find rhythm offensively, with only two three-pointers made in the first half. Despite a brief spark from Cooke, who hit a triple to pull within 28-20, the Sparks responded with another 11-0 run, highlighted by a trey from Chance Gray, to regain control. The Storm’s comeback attempt fell short as the Sparks maintained their composure down the stretch.
The victory improves the Sparks’ record to 15-25, while the Storm fall to 8-32. Both teams now head into the FIBA World Cup break, with the Storm set to host the Aces on Thursday, September 17. For the Sparks, this win provides momentum and a confidence boost as they look to finish the season strong.
Shimanta Das 
