Los Angeles Sparks Beat Seattle Storm 90-74 Behind Nneka Ogwumike Double-Double

SEATTLE — Nneka Ogwumike recorded 23 points and 12 rebounds as the Los Angeles Sparks defeated the Seattle Storm 90-74 on Sunday, August 30, at Climate Pledge Arena.

Rae Burrell added 22 points, four rebounds and three assists as Los Angeles led from start to finish. The Sparks opened the game with 13 unanswered points, built a 19-point halftime advantage and never allowed Seattle to get closer than 10 during its fourth-quarter comeback attempt.

The victory improved Los Angeles to 15-25 and extended its winning streak to two games. Seattle dropped to 8-32 after suffering another difficult loss against a Western Conference opponent. 

Sparks Take Control With Dominant First Quarter

Los Angeles established control almost immediately.

Burrell opened the scoring with a driving layup, igniting a 13-0 Sparks run while Seattle missed its first six shots. Ogwumike scored from inside and outside, while Erica Wheeler contributed an early 3-pointer.

Dominique Malonga finally put Seattle on the scoreboard, but the Storm could not prevent the visitors from maintaining their momentum. Los Angeles finished the first quarter with a commanding 25-11 advantage.

The Sparks continued applying pressure in the second period. After Seattle opened the quarter with six consecutive points, Chance Gray answered with a pair of 3-pointers to stop the Storm from gaining meaningful ground.

Dearica Hamby’s layup completed an 11-0 Los Angeles run and extended the lead to 39-20 midway through the quarter. The Sparks carried a 52-33 advantage into halftime after shooting 59 percent from the floor during the opening half.

Seattle, meanwhile, made only 12 of its 38 first-half field-goal attempts and went 2-for-11 from 3-point range.

Ogwumike and Burrell Lead Balanced Los Angeles Attack

Seattle still had no answer for Ogwumike or Burrell after the break.

Ogwumike delivered an efficient performance, making nine of her 17 field-goal attempts while adding three assists. Her 12 rebounds helped Los Angeles withstand a strong effort on the boards from Seattle.

Burrell provided another dependable scoring option and consistently attacked the Storm defense. Her three-point play in the fourth quarter helped Los Angeles respond after Seattle had reduced what was once a 26-point deficit.

Cameron Brink supplied 11 points and six rebounds off the bench, while Wheeler finished with nine points and a team-high four assists. Hamby scored six points, collected 11 rebounds and produced four steals.

The Sparks shot 44 percent from the field, connected on 12 of 31 attempts from beyond the arc and converted 14 of 15 free throws. 

Seattle’s Fourth-Quarter Rally Falls Short

The Storm trailed by as many as 26 points during the third quarter but found some offensive life late in the game.

Flau’jae Johnson scored 11 of her team-high 19 points in the fourth quarter. Her aggressive play helped Seattle produce a 22-6 run that reduced the Los Angeles lead to 10.

The Sparks responded before the Storm could make the game genuinely uncomfortable. Brink scored inside and later made a 3-pointer, while Burrell continued attacking the basket. Los Angeles restored its cushion and closed out the 16-point victory without facing another serious threat.

Johnson finished with 19 points, while Malonga recorded 17 points, 15 rebounds and three assists. Zia Cooke scored 14 points off the bench but needed 17 field-goal attempts to reach that total.

Seattle shot only 34 percent overall and made four of its 22 attempts from 3-point range. Although the Storm outrebounded Los Angeles 43-40, their poor perimeter shooting prevented them from completing the comeback. 

Seattle also experienced an injury concern when Jordan Horston landed awkwardly during the third quarter. Horston limped to the locker room and did not return. Awa Fam and Natisha Hiedeman were unavailable for the Storm.

Los Angeles Enters Break With Momentum

Sunday’s result gave Los Angeles its third victory in four games and sent the Sparks into the FIBA World Cup break with consecutive wins.

It also secured the season series for Los Angeles, two games to one. Seattle’s only victory in the series came in an 82-64 decision in Los Angeles on July 6.

The Sparks will return to action on September 17 when they visit the Dallas Wings. Seattle will resume its schedule that same day against the Las Vegas Aces.

For Los Angeles, the break arrives after one of its most complete performances of the season. The combination of Ogwumike’s interior production, Burrell’s scoring and timely contributions from the bench allowed the Sparks to control nearly every stage of the game.

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