Connecticut Sun @ Los Angeles Sparks
Ogwumike sisters lead Sparks to 77-70 win over Sun
LOS ANGELES -- Chiney Ogwumike scored 20 points on 7-for-11 shooting and her sister Nneka Ogwumike had 19 points and 15 rebounds to help the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Connecticut Sun 77-70 on Friday night.
Derek Fisher, who was named coach of the Sparks in December, got his first WNBA win. The 18-year NBA veteran, who won five titles with the Los Angeles Lakers, went 40-96 as coach of the New York Knicks from 2014-2016.
Chiney Ogwumike was acquired by the Sparks from Connecticut on April 27 in exchange for a 2020 first-round pick.
Nneka Ogwumike's 3-pointer with 0.7 seconds left in the second quarter capped a 13-4 run that gave the Sparks (1-1) a 38-31 halftime lead and Connecticut trailed the rest of the way.
Jonquel Jones hit a 3-pointer to pull the Sun (2-1) within one with 4:33 left in the fourth quarter and her 3-point play with 1:41 to go made it 69-67. Chiney Ogwumike answered with her own 3-point play and, after Jones hit 1 of 2 free throws, Nneka Ogwumike made a corner 3 to push the lead to 75-68 with 40.8 seconds remaining.
Jones had 16 points and a career-high tying 22 rebounds for Connecticut. Courtney Williams and Jasmine Thomas each added 14 points.
Thomas converted a 3-point play that trimmed the Sun's deficit to 49-42 with 5:59 left in the third quarter and neither team scored again until Chiney Ogwumike made a layup with 48 seconds left in the period. The teams combined to miss 17 consecutive shots and commit six turnovers during that stretch.
Regular Season Series
LA wins 2-1
Game Information
- Referees:
- Che Flores
- Katie Lukanich
- Jeff Wooten
- Jeff Wooten
2024-25 Western Conference Standings
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 34 | 10 | .773 | - | W1 |
| Las Vegas | 30 | 14 | .682 | 4 | W16 |
| Phoenix | 27 | 17 | .614 | 7 | L3 |
| Seattle | 23 | 21 | .523 | 11 | W1 |
| Golden State | 23 | 21 | .523 | 11 | L3 |
| Los Angeles | 21 | 23 | .477 | 13 | L1 |
| Dallas | 10 | 34 | .227 | 24 | W1 |

