Sparks can’t keep up with Storm down the stretch in loss

LOS ANGELES — The result of these late-season games might not determine much about the Sparks’ fortunes, but they are crucial to the future of players such as forward Azura Stevens.

Stevens is under contract with the Sparks for 2025, but her role is far from secure.

She understands these games present a chance for her to build toward next season. She’s certainly played like that over the last two games. On Wednesday night, she recorded her second double-double in as many games (and her fourth of the season), scoring 18 points and grabbing 15 rebounds in a 90-82 loss to the Seattle Storm at Crypto.com Arena.

Rickea Jackson, who finished with a team-high 22 points and seven rebounds, scored eight in the fourth quarter, but the Storm pulled away in the waning minutes. No other Sparks matched Jackson’s intensity as the rookie forward traded fourth-quarter blows with the Storm before their balanced attack got them through a tight-knit battle.

Skylar Diggins-Smith had 26 points and five assists and Gabby Williams scored 13 of her 17 points in the second quarter to lead Seattle (22-14), which stayed within one game of fourth-place Las Vegas (23-13) in the WNBA standings. Former Spark Nneka Ogwumike added 16 points and eight rebounds for Seattle and moved into 11th place on the WNBA’s all-time scoring list. Ezi Magbegor added 14 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots for the Storm, who survived a poor shooting night (3 for 15 overall) from Jewel Loyd (12 points, five assists).

Seattle saw its lead trimmed to 75-74 with 4:19 remaining on a Rae Burrell basket, but the Sparks (7-30) did not make another field goal until Jackson’s layup with 27.1 seconds left. The Sparks still trailed by one with 2:49 remaining when Ogwumike and Burrell (14 points) faced off for a jump ball. Diggins-Smith gained possession off Ogwumike’s tip and made a fadeaway jumper as the Storm pulled away from there, going 9 for 10 from the free-throw line in the final 1:36. Williams made two free throws with 25.6 seconds left to close it out and hand the Sparks their sixth straight loss and their 13th in the past 14 games.

Once again, the Sparks won the first quarter but dwindled as the game progressed.

In the first quarter, Stevens knocked down a pair of 3-pointers, while Jackson scored seven points. They also forced the Storm into tough perimeter shots as the visitors went 1 for 8 from behind the arc in the opening 10 minutes. Stevens hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key, which gave the Sparks an eight-point advantage.

Dearica Hamby, who finished with six points and eight rebounds, set a Sparks record for most single-season rebounds (341), passing Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie (336).

Stevens continued having her way in the second quarter. She found Stephanie Talbot on a backdoor cut, and then made another 3-pointer as the Sparks opener a 30-17 lead. The Storm cut the margin to seven, but Stevens hit a fourth 3-pointer to restore a double-digit advantage.

Seattle closed the first half on a 12-2 run. Williams scored seven points, including a 3-pointer from the corner that tied the score at 41-all.

Seattle scored the first six points of the second half. Then, Odyssey Sims got going for the Sparks.

Sims set up Hamby for an easy layup, then drove to the basket herself, but she then fouled Diggins-Smith mid-shot, leading to a three-point play for the Storm. Sims bounced back, scoring the next four points for the Sparks to cut their deficit to one. Diggins-Smith increased her ball pressure, in response, but Sims was prepared, rifling a pass to Stevens to tie the score at 60.

Sims finished with 16 points and six assists and was on pace to play all 40 minutes, but she injured her left wrist and left the game with five minutes remaining in a one-point game.

Diggins-Smith had torched Sims throughout the night, but Sims went right back at her on offense. The hosts certainly missed her offense over the final minutes.

The teams will square off again Sunday in Seattle.

More to come on this story.