The Sparks are finally in the win column—but not without a little late-night drama. On Friday, Los Angeles secured its first victory of the season with a hard-fought 99-95 win over the expansion Toronto Tempo, snapping an early skid and giving fans plenty to cheer about.
It was a breakout night for the Sparks' offense, which clicked like never before this season. All five starters scored in double figures, and the team shot a blistering 63.8% from the field. Kelsey Plum was the star of the show, nearly posting a double-double with 27 points and nine assists. Dearica Hamby added 19 points and seven rebounds, while Nneka Ogwumike chipped in 20 points of her own.
But the Tempo didn't go quietly. Toronto clawed back from a 20-point deficit in the third quarter, cutting the lead to just two late in the game. With 31 seconds left and the ball, the Tempo trailed by three. Marina Mabrey's three-point attempt missed, and a series of late fouls allowed the Sparks to ice the game from the free-throw line.
A key adjustment made all the difference for Los Angeles. Erica Wheeler got the start in place of Ariel Atkins (concussion) and delivered her best performance of the season, scoring 10 points with seven assists and a team-best plus-16 rating. Wheeler's steady hand at point guard freed up Plum to focus on scoring, creating a much more fluid and efficient offense.
The Sparks also dominated inside, piling up 54 points in the paint. With Toronto missing starting center Temi Fagbenle (right shoulder), Los Angeles' trio of bigs had their way in the paint all night.
The game started with a bang as the Sparks raced out to a 17-2 lead. The Tempo answered with a 10-0 run to close the first quarter, but Los Angeles maintained control and took a 46-38 lead into halftime. Wheeler's three-pointer early in the third pushed the lead to 20, but Toronto refused to fold. Brittany Sykes led the Tempo's rally with 27 points and seven assists, and a 10-2 edge in offensive rebounds kept Toronto in striking distance.
Cameron Brink was the only Sparks reserve to score, contributing 10 points. The Tempo, by contrast, got 42 points from their bench. But on this night, Los Angeles' starters were simply too much to handle.
The win was a much-needed confidence boost for a Sparks team looking to find its rhythm early in the season. With the offense clicking and key players stepping up, this victory could be the spark that ignites a strong run.