Sparks get blown out against Storm

LOS ANGELES -- Well, there isn't really much to say.

The Sparks came in with practically half their opening roster missing. While the Storm have played up and down this season, they were very much up against the Sparks. L.A. was waxed in the third quarter once again and they were dumped by Seattle, 98-67.

In addition to no Rae Burrell and no Cameron Brink, they also didn't have Julie Allemand, Odyssey Sims, and Kelsey Plum. It was a recipe for disaster even though the Sparks kept up with the Storm in the first half.

"We miss (Kelsey). We miss Odyssey. We miss Julie. Those are our three lead guards. And none of them are here," Coach Roberts said.

"I thought Shey (Peddy) and Grace (Berger)... they did what they could. But it's hard to execute stuff that they've had so little time to digest. It's not anyone's fault; it's just the reality. I thought they competed but... that point guard spot is obviously very important. I'm more concerned about our defense right now."

It wasn't all bad. Azura Stevens had a double-double with 16 points and 10 boards.

"Just trying to be consistent," Stevens said. "I'm just trying to bring the same energy every night and it's been working out."

But of course, there wasn't a lot of good, either. The Storm shot the lights out at .520 and were 13 for 30 (.433) behind the arc. The Sparks were not great at .328 from the field and 6 for 22 (.273). And the Sparks had trouble holding on to the ball; they had 22 giveaways compared to the Storm's 10.

Gabby Williams was a thief the entire night with eight steals. Ezi Magbegor was a one-woman swat team with six blocks. It was a virtuoso performance by Seattle's defense.

"There's a lot of things we gotta get better at," Coach Roberts commented.

The Sparks obviously didn't have a lot of positives going on but rookie Sania Feagin did get extended minutes. She was scoreless in 10 minutes but had three blocks, including one electrifying block on a lay-up by Erica Wheeler. 

Rickea Jackson faced traps a lot of the game; she ended with 17 points. Stevens had that aforementioned double-double (16 and 10). Sarah Ashlee Barker went 4 for 5 from deep, scoring a career-best 12 points.

Seattle (7-5) was led by all-time Sparks great Nneka Ogwumike with 26 points, who was very familiar with the courts here. She also had something to say about the recent events happening here in the City of Angels.

Wheeler and Skylar Diggins each had 15 points while Alysha Clark couldn't miss a corner three on her way to 14 points. Gabby Williams had 11 points, seven assists, and eight steals in what could've been a rare triple-double.

The Sparks (4-9) will lick their wounds and go back on the road on Saturday. They're going back to Minnesota for a rematch with the Lynx.