Los Angeles, Calif. – The Sparks led for a majority of the contest, but a shooting drought in the final frame handed Los Angeles its first home loss of the season at the hands of the New York Liberty, 98-92. Both teams were coming off back-to-back games.

After shooting 50% from the field in the first three periods, the Sparks went just 7-of-20 in the fourth quarter. Amanda Zahui B – who finished with a career-high 37 points – drained a dagger from beyond the arc to give the Liberty a 90-88 lead with 57 seconds to go. New York knocked down free throws to ice the game. The Liberty attempted 26 free throws to the Sparks seven for the game.

Tierra Ruffin-Pratt put the Sparks on the board first with a layup off an assist from Chiney Ogwumike, who logged six first-quarter points including two put-back layups. Nneka Ogwumike nailed a jumper from the top of the key, and then finished off a no-look pass from Chelsea Gray to give Los Angeles an early 17-9 lead. But the Sparks gave up an 8-2 run, holding a 19-17 edge at the end of the period.

In the second quarter, Zahui B – who registered 24 first-half points – drained her third of seven 3- pointers of the night to give New York a 27-26 lead. Riquna Williams, however, answered with a second triple of her own to regain the lead for the Sparks.

Los Angeles held Tina Charles to 0-of-5 from the field, before the six-time All-Star and former MVP made her first basket midway through the second quarter. The two teams exchanged leads six times in the frame as both shot over 50% in the half. A driving layup from Chiney Ogwumike – who poured in a season-high 26 points – gave Los Angeles a 50-48 lead at the break.

The Sparks and Liberty traded baskets early in the third, but a pull-up jumper from the left elbow by Gray put Los Angeles up 58-53. But New York didn’t go away, tying it up at 72-72  heading into the final period. The Liberty would outscore the Sparks 26-20 in the fourth quarter, winning their first game on the road.

Chiney Ogwumike, Nneka Ogwumike and Gray each logged their fifth double-digit scoring performance of the season, but the Sparks fell short of the win.