Chelsea Gray recorded a career-high 26 points to lead the Los Angeles Sparks (19-13) to a 74-66 win against the New York Liberty (7-24) in the Sparks’ final regular season game at the Staples Center, a performance that sealed a postseason home game for Los Angeles.

With the score knotted at six at the 6:58 mark, Candace Parker stole the ball from Sugar Rodgers at half-court and drove to the basket for the 3-point play (9-6). The next possession saw Parker hand off to first-time 2018 starter Riquna Williams for the straightaway long ball to extend the Sparks’ lead to six with 6:00 left in the frame. Following a timeout, the Liberty surged to a 9-2 run to take a 17-16 lead (2:01). With the Liberty up one, Gray hit a mid-range jumper with 20 seconds left to give Los Angeles the 22-21 lead going into the second quarter.

Kiah Stokes and Rodgers combined for the first five points of the quarter for New York, forcing Sparks coach Brian Agler to call timeout down 26-22 (8:49). With the Liberty leading 30-28, Parker drained a 3-pointer to retake the lead for the Sparks (5:28). Charles quieted the Los Angeles crowd with a long ball of her own to give her 16 points in the half, pushing the Liberty to a 35-33 advantage. Five points from rookie Kia Nurse fueled a 9-2 run to extend New York’s lead to 44-35 (58.4). Essence Carson hit a three with 25.8 seconds left, sending the teams into the locker rooms with the Liberty leading 44-38. Charles’ 16 led all scores at the break, while Gray added 10 points and four assists for the Sparks.

With the Liberty ahead 47-40, Ogwumike picked off a crosscourt pass and drove the length of the floor for the 3-point play (6:56). After a turnaround jumper from Gray pulled the Sparks to within two (4:28), the Sparks brought down three offensive boards which led to an easy layup for Ogwumike, tying the score at 51. The next possession saw Parker find a cutting Ogwumike for the score, highlighting a 10-0 run that gave the Sparks their first lead of the second half. After Bria Hartley tied the game with a long ball, Gray immediately answered with a 3-point play to give the lead back to Los Angeles. The Sparks would take a 61-58 lead into the fourth behind nine points in the frame from Gray.

Hartley continued to provide a bench spark for the Liberty, hitting a three to tie the game at the 8:17 mark. Following a Sparks timeout, Parker hit a long ball to push the Los Angeles lead to 64-61. Gray followed with a steal and finished solo effort with a 3-point play at the other end (6:08). The Liberty would not go away, as they rattled off five straight points to pull within a point with 3:04 remaining. After a free throw from Parker put Los Angeles up two (2:14), Gray threaded the needle to find a cutting Ogwumike for the two, putting the Sparks ahead 70-66. Gray then iced the game with a stepback jumper with 35.1 to play. Free throws from Gray would give her a career-high 26 points, sending the Sparks home with a 74-66 win in their last home game of the 2018 regular season.

Gray’s 26 was good for the game high, and Ogwumike added 20 points and eight rebounds in the win. Charles ended with 21 points and seven boards for the Liberty.