The Sparks fell, 89-81, to the Valkyries Monday in their first overtime game of the season. The competitive game featured 14 lead changes and 11 ties.

Kelsey Plum reached 1,000 career assists with her seventh assist in the game, finished by Rickea Jackson with 5:07 remaining in the fourth. Plum scored a game-high 24 points, including four three-pointers and a perfect 6-for-6 in free throws.

Dearica Hamby poured in 20 points, contributing nine rebounds and five assists. Azurá Stevens, who entered the game second in the league in stocks (steals and blocks), tallied six more with three steals and three blocks. Stevens also dished a season-high four assists.

Off the bench, Emma Cannon posted a +14 with six points, Julie Allemand matched her career high with three steals and Sarah Ashlee Barker scored seven points in 10 minutes on a perfect 3-for-3 shooting.

The Sparks outscored the Valkyries on the fast break, 25-8, and 21-13 off turnovers.

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT:

Head Coach Lynne Roberts

On Monday’ game:

“I felt like we just had a hard time finding a lot of the basket there. I don't know if we ran out of steam or what. Credit to them, but I thought we played really hard, and that's our first overtime game as a group, and learning how to win is a process. I despise losing, but it is a process. Now we got that under our belt, and we know a little bit better, but it was a good back-and-forth game, and they [won] the last round.”