SEATTLE -- The Sparks looked like they were going to repeat last year's end-of-season performance against Seattle. But this time, they fell short.
Los Angeles was down by as many as 16 points before they came back to take the lead with a minute to go. But the Storm made timely free throws and held on for the win after Rickea Jackson missed a last-gasp three-pointer, 90-87.
The Sparks didn't match the Storm's energy in the first half. Then they came back with a vengeance in the second half and had the win right in front of them. But in the end, the Sparks fell short.
"Certainly very proud of our intensity, effort coming out of the locker room," Miller said. "Disappointing feeling in that first half. A little bit of scheme change but the energy, effort, and desire was at a different level of competeness. We competed so much harder."
Odyssey Sims liked the team's fight.
"We play 'til the game is over," Sims said. "It doesn't matter if we're down 20, it doesn't matter if we're down 10.
"Like Coach said, we put ourselves in position to win. Just finish some games. We were right there. But happy with the way we played tonight, especially on the defensive end."
In some good news for the Sparks, Rickea Jackson was the second Sparks rookie to score 500 points in a season (Candace Parker was the first).
🗣️ THAT'S OUR ROOKIE!
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) September 15, 2024
Congrats to Rickea Jackson on earning 500th career point. @iamthathooper x #TheNewClassic pic.twitter.com/dSSVyfWpBh
"It feels great, honestly," Jackson said. "To be where I am and continuously getting better throughout the season, I feel like that's what was most important for me: just my growth. And I feel like my coaches and my teammates, they're the ones that should get the reward because without them, I don't know where I would be."
Coach Miller followed up on that.
"Huge congratulations to Rickea," Miller said. "500 points in a season. She's the second Spark only to ever do that so what an accomplishment. Again, she's just scratching the surface. She desires to get better and better. Wants to be coached. Can't say enough great things about Rickea and the year that she's having. And she's only gonna get better."
Three Sparks had 20 or more points. Dearica Hamby had 25 points and 11 boards to get her 16th double-double of the season. Jackson scored 22. Sims went for 20. On the other side, the Storm were led by the ever-so-steady Nneka Ogwumike with 23 while Gabby Williams scored 22. Turnovers plagued the Sparks early but they were able to turn the Storm over in the second half. In the end, L.A. only had one more giveaway than Seattle, 16-15.
The Sparks have lost seven in a row and are now 7-31. They are going to go back to Los Angeles for their last home game of the season as they take on Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday.
