The Los Angeles Sparks cruised to their third straight win in a 81-64 victory over the Washington Mystics. The Sparks, leading the league in opponent turnover percentage, continued their recent stretch of tenacious defense, forcing 21 Mystics turnovers. Additionally, they held the Mystics to less than 20 points in each quarter.

“Defensively, we’re making more of a concerted effort as a team,” said head coach Derek Fisher after the game. “More people are taking individual pride in what they’re doing on the [defensive] end…”

The Los Angeles Sparks bench got off to a red hot start scoring 25 points in the first half, led by Riquna Williams, who started the game scoring eight points on 100% shooting in the first quarter. The bench finished the game outscoring the Mystics bench 42-11. Overall, LA had a balanced showing with eight different players scoring at least six points and five reaching double-figures: Riquna Williams with 13, Nneka Ogwumike with 12, Chelsea Gray with 11, Te’a Cooper with 10, and Brittney Sykes with 10.

“We really do believe we have 12 players that, at any one point in the game, can do something for us,” said Fisher before the game.

The Washington Mystics were led by Ariel Atkins who scored 16 points in the first half, nearly half of the Mystics total score. She’d finish with a game high 20 points. Emma Meesseman, who had eight of her 12 points in the third quarter, recorded a double-double with 11 rebounds.

The Sparks reached multiple milestones tonight with Riquna Williams and Seimone Agustus each hitting their 290th career 3-pointer, tying them at 47th all-time in 3-pointers made. Additionally, center Kristine Anigwe tied her career-high with eight points in 16 minutes.

“I see a lot of myself in Kristine, she’s very raw and athletic and she wants to soak everything in,” Nneka Ogwumike said postgame. “I really try to simplify it for her and let her understand that she has to trust herself. When she plays with instinct, that’s when she plays her best.”

The Los Angeles Sparks have one more game in their current stretch of six games in 11 days before having three days off. LA improved to 6-3 on the season and will look to continue their three-game winning streak against the Indiana Fever on Saturday, Aug. 15 at 11 a.m. PT on ESPN.

Los Angeles Highlights:

• The Sparks outscored the Mystics in every quarter.

• Los Angeles had five players in double-figures: Sykes (10), Ogwumike (12), C. Gray (11), Williams (13), Cooper (10)

• The Sparks bench outscored the Mystics bench 42-11; more than half of team points came from the bench

• Tonight’s 17-point margin of victory is the Sparks second-largest of the season

• Kristine Anigwe scored 8 points, tying her career-high, and shot 4-for-4 from the field