The Los Angeles Sparks finally broke through on Friday night, using a blistering start and balanced offensive attack to hold off the relentless comeback effort from the Tempo in a thrilling 99-95 victory in Los Angeles.
The Sparks came out with urgency from the opening tip, exploding to a stunning 21-2 lead within the first four and a half minutes of the game. Their aggressive defensive pressure and fast-paced tempo completely overwhelmed the Tempo early on. Much of that energy came from Rae Burrell, whose activity on both ends of the floor created multiple turnovers that quickly turned into Sparks points in transition.
Los Angeles dominated the paint throughout the night, finishing with 54 points inside. The frontcourt duo of Nneka Ogwumike and Dearica Hamby controlled the interior with physical play, efficient scoring, and strong rebounding that helped the Sparks maintain momentum during key stretches.
Meanwhile, Kelsey Plum orchestrated the offense masterfully. Plum poured in 27 points while dishing out nine assists, constantly keeping the Tempo defense off balance with her playmaking and scoring ability. Whether knocking down perimeter shots or creating opportunities for teammates, Plum was the engine that powered the Sparks offense all evening.
Despite trailing big early, the Tempo refused to fold. Led by the aggressive scoring of Brittney Sykes, the Tempo slowly chipped away at the deficit throughout the second half. A crucial 7-0 run late in the fourth quarter cut the Sparks lead to just 89-87 with a little over two minutes remaining, putting pressure on Los Angeles down the stretch.
The Tempo continued to battle as Sykes attacked relentlessly, trimming the deficit to 92-89 with 55.3 seconds left. However, that would be as close as they would get. The Sparks knocked down timely free throws and executed in the closing moments to secure their first victory of the season and hand the Tempo their first-ever road loss in Los Angeles.
While the Sparks celebrated a much-needed win, the Tempo showed resilience and toughness after a rough opening stretch. They will now look to regroup quickly and aim for a split when they return to action Sunday afternoon.
