With a 102-91 victory over the Sun, the Sparks secured their eighth win in the last nine games and moved into a tie with the Golden State Valkyries for the eighth and final playoff spot. The 102 points marked a season high in regulation and the fifth time in the last six games that Los Angeles has scored at least 100 points. It was also the team’s seventh double-digit win of the year. 

Julie Allemand delivered a milestone performance Thursday night, becoming the 22nd player in WNBA history and the fifth in Sparks history to record a triple-double. The Belgian guard scored 10 points (5-for-7 FG), matching her career high with 11 assists and setting a career mark with 10 rebounds. She earned a game-best +21 rating and committed just one turnover. The 29-year-old joins Lisa Leslie, Candace Parker, Chelsea Gray and Layshia Clarendonamong Sparks who have recorded a triple-double in the WNBA.

Azurá Stevens secured seven rebounds to move into 10th place on the franchise’s all-time rebounds list. She added 10 points, two blocks and a +16 rating, recording her third consecutive multi-block game and 11th of the season.

Rickea Jackson notched 20 points on 50% shooting from the field (6-for-12 FG), 60% from three-point range (3-for-5 3PT) and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line. The forward has scored at least 20 points in three straight games for the first time in her career, averaging 24.0 points during this stretch while slashing .500/.400/1.000. Dearica Hamby contributed a game-high 21 points (8-for-11 FG, 5-for-6 FT), five rebounds and four assists in just 24 minutes of action.

Kelsey Plum tallied 18 points (6-for-12 FG, 3-for-7 3PT) and five assists, while Cameron Brink posted season highs of 11 points (3-for-4 FG, 2-for-2 3PT, 3-for-3 FT) and five rebounds along with two blocks. Rae Burrell added nine points (3-for-5 FG, 1-for-1 3PT, 2-for-2 FT), three rebounds and one steal off the bench.

Los Angeles outscored Connecticut 48-32 in the paint, shot 56.5% from the field and 44% from beyond the arc. The contest featured 12 lead changes and six ties before the Sparks closed strong to secure the win. The victory also evened the all-time series against Connecticut at 31-31, with Los Angeles sweeping this season’s three-game slate.

QUOTES OF THE NIGHT:

Head Coach Lynne Roberts

On the Sparks’ playoff push: 

“[Playoffs is] the goal. We'll manifest that. I'm proud of this group. We've hung in there, and as I've said, didn't lose sight of the big picture when we had all those injuries and just a lot of adversity…It’s a great group. They're good people, and they want this team to do well. Julie's the picture of that… for her to come out, she was just dialing today. She was really good. It was impossible in the second half to take her out of the game. I know she's tired, but she was just unbelievable — 11 assists and one turnover, and the rebounds, just all of it. We've just stayed steady, and these guys have hung in there and trusted me, and trusted the process with it, and so it's very rewarding, but I'm just really proud of them.”

Julie Allemand

On recording the first triple-double of her career:

“The first part of the season I had surgery, [and] it was tough to come back [from], then I went to Eurobasket and it helped me a lot…so when I came back, I just wanted to play and be the same as I was over there. That's what I'm doing right now and I'm feeling way more comfortable in this team. So yeah it's been great, but the most important is the win and tonight was an important one. It wasn't easy, but we were more focused in the second half [defensively], and I think that's why we won this game. We know on offense we’re good… so if we are focused on defense and we can run, then it's gonna be easy, and I think that's what we did tonight…That's amazing, and I just hope that we're gonna keep going like this. We have an important game coming up.” 

Dearica Hamby

On her contribution to the team’s success:

“We know how talented this team is, and to be able to play 23 minutes and have everybody else come in and still be efficient and contribute, that's what it's gonna take to win a championship and to continue to build a championship culture. I want to do what I have to do to win, [which means] just try to just continue to lead by example.”

On the Sparks winning eight of the last nine games: 

“Since the beginning of the season, I've been optimistic about what this team can look like, and why I want to be here, and why I'm going to continue to be here. And I know I've compared this team to the 2022 Aces team, just having so much firepower and being one of the fastest teams we've seen. We've scored 100 points in five out of the last six games. So we're not done yet, we got a lot more to accomplish, obviously, but I think Sparks basketball is back.” 

What’s Next?: 

The Sparks visit the Golden State Valkyries Saturday, Aug. 9 (5:30 p.m. PT) before returning to Crypto.com Arena for a two-game homestand against the Seattle Storm Aug. 10 (5 p.m. PT) and the New York Liberty Aug. 12 (7 p.m. PT).