Last-place Sparks stun first-place Liberty to end skid

LOS ANGELES — Throughout a disappointing season, Curt Miller’s positivity has remained constant. The Sparks head coach has avoided placing blame on players, instead taking accountability for his team’s woes and accepting criticism as they’ve blown several late-game leads.

He’s also deferred credit to his players when the young group does show signs of growth.

“Just really proud of these guys,” Miller said Wednesday night after the last-place Sparks (7-24) stunned the first-place New York Liberty, 94-88, to earn their first win since July 13 and end a seven-game skid.

“We accomplished the scheme that we wanted to try tonight against New York,” Miller added.

That scheme entailed limiting 3-point attempts – the Liberty (26-6) average a WNBA-high 29.2 per game – and creating transition offense. The Sparks forced 20 turnovers and had 29 points off those turnovers and held sharpshooting Sabrina Ionescu to a 3-for-14 showing from behind the arc.

Dearica Hamby had 21 points, Rickea Jackson had 19 and Rae Burrell tied her career-high with 18 off the bench. Odyssey Sims added 14 points, a team-high seven assists and three steals for the Sparks.

Breanna Stewart scored 15 of her game-high 32 points in the fourth quarter for New York, which got 18 points and six assists from Ionescu and 14 points and 10 rebounds from Nyara Sabally.

The Sparks’ win came almost two weeks after the Liberty throttled the Sparks by 35 points on the same Crypto.com Arena court, a defeat that left Sparks coach Curt Miller questioning his team’s pride.

But Miller’s nothing if not fair. That’s why, he was quick to shower his team with praise. After all, they had heeded his message and responded, emphatically.

“Less than two weeks ago, coming out of the Olympic break on national television, just did not compete real well against this same New York team,” Miller said. “So for us to step back up, it just says so much about this team’s character.”

The Sparks started that earlier game in a 10-point hole, but they took control early on Wednesday.

Hamby (seven rebounds, five assists and three steals) and Jackson (7-for-11 shooting, 4 for 6 from 3-point range) anchored an inspired effort on the defensive side from the outset Wednesday as the Sparks opened a double-digit lead in the first quarter.

Jackson scored 11 points – including three 3-pointers in less than two minutes – during a 15-0 run that made it 24-10 late in the first. The No. 4 pick in the 2024 draft shot just 21% (15 for 71) from behind the arc through her first 28 WNBA games, but she has made 13 of 19 (68%) in her last three.

The Liberty eventually found a rhythm. Stewart took advantage of  one of the few defensive breakdowns to cut the lead to five, and the Sparks settled for a 46-39 advantage at halftime.

The Liberty scored seven unanswered points to start the third quarter and tie the score at 46-all. The Sparks, again, responded on the back of their defense. Hamby intercepted an Ionescu pass and found Azura Stevens for a transition 3-pointer. Hamby had eight points in the third quarter, including a right-handed layup just before the buzzer.

New York had taken a 63-62 lead, its second of the night, on an Ionescu 3-pointer from the right wing, but that was immediately answered by Jackson’s fourth 3-pointer of the night and Hamby’s basket.

A free throw from Stewart cut the Sparks’ lead to 77-74 with 4:14 to play, but the hosts responded with a 10-0 run for an 87-74 lead with 1:41 remaining, and put the game away.

Burrell, who shot 7 for 8 from the field (3 for 3 from behind the arc), hit a number of timely shots and scored eight straight points after the Liberty got within one. She finished a drive with a right-handed layup, then hit a quick-trigger 3-pointer before benefitting from a Stephanie Talbot offensive rebound to hit another 3-pointer.

“Everybody likes to see the shots go in,” Burrell said. “It makes me feel good. I’m just happy that my team was able to put me in great positions to get those shots.”

A free throw from Stewart cut the Sparks’ lead to 77-74 with 4:14 to play, but the hosts responded with a 10-0 run for an 87-74 lead with 1:41 remaining and put the game away.

Their first win since the Olympic break provided a reminder of the demeanor it takes to protect leads in the final moments.

“We’ve consistently shown three quarters out of four quarters that we’re the better team on the floor,” Hamby said. “But we haven’t been able to close games.”