Ogwumike and Hamby have double-doubles to help Sparks beat Fire 89-72
Nneka Ogwumike Shines as Los Angeles Sparks Defeat Portland Fire
Nneka Ogwumike put on a stellar performance with 20 points and a season-high 17 rebounds, while Dearica Hamby added 22 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Sparks to an 89-72 victory over the Portland Fire. This win marked a significant turnaround for the Sparks, who had been on a three-game losing streak prior to this game.
Ogwumike’s exceptional display marked her third consecutive double-double and fifth of the season. Kelsey Plum also made a strong contribution with 16 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and three steals for the Sparks, who improved their record to 5-6 with this win. Additionally, Rae Burrell added 10 points to the team’s winning effort.
On the other side, Megan Gustafson stood out for the Fire with 16 points and a season-high 12 rebounds, recording her first double-double since 2023. Carla Leite and Emily Engstler also contributed 10 points each for Portland.
The game turned in favor of the Sparks during the third quarter, where they outscored the Fire 23-12. Portland struggled with turnovers, committing nine in total, six of which were steals by Los Angeles. This led to a significant lead for the Sparks heading into the final quarter.
The Fire’s shooting woes continued as they tied a season-low with only three 3-pointers made and shot a season-worst 10.7% from behind the arc. Los Angeles took advantage of Portland’s struggles and put up a strong defensive performance, holding their opponents to their lowest scoring output of the season.
With this win, the Sparks showcased their defensive prowess, limiting Portland to just 72 points, their lowest allowed total of the season. On the other hand, the Fire had lost three consecutive games prior to this matchup and were looking to turn things around.
Looking ahead, the Sparks will face off against the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday, while the Fire will take on the Connecticut Sun on Wednesday.
This victory for the Los Angeles Sparks not only snaps their losing streak but also serves as a statement win as they look to climb up the standings in the WNBA.
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