Hollywood made its way to the Midwest and Los Angeles left with a spark. The LA Sparks ended a two-game losing streak on the road with a 102-88 win over the Chicago Sky. The Sparks opened the first quarter with an 11-point lead, a lead they never gave up the entire game. The Sparks scored a season high in points and shot a season-best 56 percent from the field.
Reigning MVP Candace Parker did not start the game for the Sparks because of a left ankle injury suffered in the team’s loss to Atlanta on Tuesday. She entered the game four minutes into the first quarter. “If you asked any of us whether we would be 3 and 3 at this point of the season we would not believe you, it is what it is, we have to adjust and hope we don’t drop as many more,” Parker stated. Parker finished with 17 points. The Sparks led by as many as 23 points and outscored the Sky 38-18 in the paint in the first half.
It was another day in office at the free throw line for Elena Delle Donne as she set a WNBA record for most free throws without a miss. She was 16-of-16 at the line on her way to a new career high in points with 33. “Our defense was not at all where it needs to be or it has been,” Delle Donne stated. Alana Beard, Nneka Ogwumike and Kristi Toliver all scored in double figures for the Sparks.
The Sky hadn’t played in a week and took their biggest loss of the season. Sky players mentioned there was no excuse. The Sky were holding opponents to 72.3 points per game and 39 percent shooting.
Lastly Hollywood was in the building literally. WNBA superstars Swin Cash, Tamika Catchings and Lindsey Harding along with Delle Donne and Ogwumike made an appearance in this past week’s show “The Bachelorette.” “Social media was blowing up, it is great for the WNBA to get us out there in primetime TV and a different kind of light,” Delle Donne stated. Three of the players (Delle Donne, Harding, Ogwumike) in today’s game appeared on the show as they played basketball against the men who are after the final rose or Andi’s heart per se. The men had no chance against the women.
