LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Sparks hosted the Connecticut Sun in their first home game of the 2019 regular season at Staples Center. The Sparks celebrated Executive Vice President and General Manager’s Penny Toler’s 20-year tenure in the role with a 77-70 win over Connecticut as her retired jersey hung in the arena’s rafters. Chiney Ogwumike led the Sparks with 20 points against her former team after her departure in the offseason. Nneka Ogwumike added 19 points and 15 rebounds. Jonquel Jones had 16 points and 22 rebounds for the Sun.

The first quarter opened with back-and forth-play. Nneka scored the first six points for the Sparks before Chiney backed her up with two free throws to give the Sparks their first lead of the game at 7-6. Gray stole the ball and passed to Nneka under the basket for a layup that helped the Sparks take the lead, 12-9. Tierra Ruffin-Pratt’s offensive rebound gave Chiney another chance to reclaim the lead before an electric 3-pointer from Riquna Williams earned the Sparks a four-point lead. Connecticut’s Jonquel Jones led the Sun with seven points and three rebounds in the first quarter that ended with Los Angeles up 21-19.

The Sun’s Brionna Jones tied up the score at the start of the second quarter, and Nneka responded right away with a layup. Connecticut’s Jonquel Jones totaled 11 rebounds in the first half to carry her team’s 29 rebounds compared to Los Angeles’ 21. But the Sparks still dominated offensively as Ruffin-Pratt and Gray helped the Sparks pull away with two points each before Sydney Weise’s 3-pointer solidified the six-point lead in her first professional career start. Gray found Nneka in the corner to end the half with a 3-point shot at 38-31.

Chiney scored 6 points in the third quarter to double her points and help the Sparks keep their lead. After Jasmine Thomas opened the second half with a three for the Sun, Chiney’s layup forced them to call a timeout at 47-39. Connecticut continued to rack up the rebounds, totaling 41 at the end of the third quarter, but it also added four more turnovers to its previous six. The quarter didn’t see a lead change and closed with the Sparks up 51-42.

The Sun continued to dominate on the boards behind Jonquel Jones matching her career high 22 rebounds, but Chiney’s eight points in the fourth quarter prevented Connecticut from claiming a lead. Chiney picked up two points when Jonquel Jones flagrant fouled her, and Ruffin-Pratt tacked on a 3-pointer. Chiney picked up three more points after rebounding in the paint and forcing an and-one. With just under one minute left, Nneka hit a 3-point shot that iced the Sparks’ lead at 75-68. The Sparks defeated the Sun, 77-70.