Sparks Fall Flat in Camp Day Game Against Wings

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Sparks three-game winning streak was snapped Tuesday afternoon in Dallas as Los Angeles fell 74-62 to the Wings. The game, broadcasted on Twitter, was played at 10 a.m. PT as a camp day game in Arlington. The Sparks crossed two time zones on Monday before Tuesday’s midday tilt. In June, the Sparks crossed three time zones before a morning school day game in New York. The Wings were led by 17 points from Kalya Thornton. Nneka Ogwumike led the Sparks with her sixth double-double, scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Chiney Ogwumike also had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Ogwumike scored the first basket of the game on a pick and roll with Riquna Williams and scored six early points. Wings rookie Arike Ogunbowale also had an early six as the game was tied at 12 at the first timeout. Williams heated up, scoring 10 points on 4-for-5 shooting, including two 3-pointers, to give the Sparks a 20-16 lead after the first quarter. The scoring burst marked Williams fourth straight game in double-figures and her sixth this season. Candace Parker hurt her right foot in the first quarter and would not return.

The Wings got off a to a hot start in the second quarter, beginning on a 17-9 run to force a timeout from head coach Derek Fisher with Dallas leading 33-29. Ogwunbowale reached double-figures before the half with 10 points, and the Wings took a 37-32 lead into the locker room.

The Wings momentum continued into the third quarter as they started on a 9-2 run to go up 46-34 with balanced scoring from Thornton, Glory Johnson and Kaela Davis. The Sparks struggled to connect from the floor, though Kalani Brown’s five points in the period helped keep Los Angeles in striking distance. Dallas took a 55-44 lead into the fourth quarter.

Another Brown basket cut the lead to 57-48, but Dallas answered right back with a 3-pointer from Brooke McCarty-Williams. The Sparks bench responded with a 7-0 run as a Marina Mabrey triple cut the lead to 60-55 and forced a timeout from Wings head coach and former Sparks coach Brian Agler. But that was the closest the Sparks would get as the Wings ended the game on a 14-7 run.