Sparks Hold Off Mystics 88-82

The Los Angeles Sparks defeated the Washington Mystics 88-82 as Nneka Ogwumike scored 24 and Rae Burrell poured in 12 of her 15 points in the fourth quarter to spark the rally. LA used a 13-2 run late in the fourth, with Burrell hitting a key three and a transition layup after a Cameron Brink block to push the lead to 85-78. Cameron Brink added 13 points and two blocks off the bench, while Monique Akoa Makani contributed 10 for the Sparks, who improved to 14-25. Washington, playing back-to-back games, committed 17 turnovers leading to 31 Sparks points, despite Sonia Citron’s 22 points and four 3-pointers and Shakira Austin’s 19 points and 10 rebounds. Georgia Amoore, who had a career-high 25 points the previous game, finished with nine on 3-of-8 shooting as the Mystics head into the FIBA Women’s World Cup break; the Sparks head to Seattle on Sunday. The matchup context notes Washington’s playoff positioning and the Sparks’ struggles since mid-July, with Ogwumike nearing the end of a storied career and the Mystics aiming to maintain momentum in pursuit of a higher seed.