Los Angeles finished their three-game homestand 3-0, defeating the Washington Mystics 98-81 while notching their 450th win as a franchise.
Nneka Ogwumike, Riquna Williams, and Chelsea Gray led the way for the Sparks in this win.
Ogwumike finished with a double-double in 31 points, 10 rebounds, and an assist. She had a big night from three-point range, hitting five, a career-high, from beyond the arc.
Ogwumike shows off three-point shot
Coming into this season, Ogwumike said that she expanded her game overseas and hoped for that to carry over into her play with the Sparks.
Ogwumike is known for working opponents with her mid-range jumper and in the paint. However, this season, she has moved some of her game beyond the arc.
“I think we’ve seen glimpses of it from 2016 but it might be a little bit more consistent now,” Ogwumike said about her comfort-ability with her shots from the three.
Ogwumike has been on the receiving end of many assists from Gray and tonight was no different. Gray assisted on the game-sealing shot by Ogwumike.
“It bugs me when I’m not able to finish some plays when she passes the ball to me,” Ogwumike said about Gray’s nifty passes.
“She is an all-around point guard. I personally think is the best in the league and I’m happy she’s on my team.”
Gray’s imprint throughout the game allowed the Sparks to continue to push forward in the win. Gray’s impact on the game was felt not just in assists and scoring but also down low in the paint, where she was able to garner rebounds.
Gray finished the game with some statistical feats in her career. Gray became the eighth person in WNBA to finish with a triple-double as she had 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists.
Gray also notched a career-high in both rebounds and assists.
“[It’s] really credit to the people that I have around me and being able to succeed like that,” Gray said about her triple-double and impact on the team.
Along with both Gray and Ogwumike, Williams’ presence helped the Sparks during the dominating victory.
Williams provides spark
When Williams is on the floor, she gives the Sparks an instant boost on offense. She was 5-10 from three-point range and gave the team an added defensive intensity. Williams finished with 19 points, four rebounds, and one assist.
The Sparks were electric from the start. Ogwumike and Williams were threats from the three in the first quarter combining for six three-pointers that put the Sparks up early.
With Ogwumike and Williams leading the way early, the Sparks scored a season-high 29 points during the opening in the quarter.
The Sparks carried their play over into the second quarter, notching a season-high 51 points in a half.
The Mystics attempted to make a slight run at the beginning of the third until the Sparks took a timeout. Momentum switched immediately afterwards as the Sparks took over once more.
Tierra Ruffin-Pratt contributed seven points of her 12 points that gave the Sparks some added energy in the third.
The Sparks held their largest lead of the game in the third quarter by 20 points. They shot 51.6 percent from three-point range and 48.6 percent from the field.
Los Angeles moves to 7-6 on the season with this win over the Mystics.
Next up
Los Angeles will play the Dallas Wings on Tuesday at 10 a.m. PT as part of a three-game road trip in Dallas, Indiana, and Atlanta.
