Kelsey Plum showcased a strong performance with 27 points, 18 of which came in the second half, leading the Los Angeles Sparks to a 99-95 victory over the Toronto Tempo for their first win of the season. The two teams are set to face each other again in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Despite trailing by 20 points in the second half, the Toronto Tempo (1-2) made a late surge, narrowing the gap to just two points with 2:23 remaining. However, Plum and Nneka Ogwumike combined for six crucial points to extend the lead. While Toronto managed to get within three points with less than a minute left, Plum’s two successful free throws with 13.8 seconds remaining, followed by Cameron Brink’s additional two points, secured the win for the Sparks.
Ogwumike contributed 20 points, Dearica Hamby added 19, Rae Burrell scored 13, and Erica Wheeler chipped in with 10 points for the Sparks. On the other side, Brittney Sykes led Toronto with 27 points, backed by Laura Juskaite with 16 points and Nyara Sabally with 14. Kiki Rice added 11 points off the bench, helping the Tempo reserves outscore the Sparks reserves 42-10.
Despite a valiant effort from Toronto, shooting at 44%, the Sparks dominated with a 64% shooting accuracy, highlighting their efficiency on the court. Los Angeles took control early in the game, scoring the first 10 points and establishing a 21-2 lead before Toronto managed to narrow the gap to 28-17 by the end of the first quarter, with the Sparks making 11 of 18 shots.
Toronto managed to cut the deficit to 42-37 in the second quarter, but the Sparks maintained an 8-point lead of 46-38 at halftime. Los Angeles then started the third quarter with a 12-0 run, pushing their lead to 58-38 midway through. Despite the Tempo’s comeback efforts, they entered the fourth quarter trailing 74-63.
The game showcased intense competition and strategic gameplay from both sides, setting the stage for an exciting rematch in Los Angeles.