CHICAGO -- In a battle between two teams trying to snap three-game losing streaks, it was the Chicago Sky who held firm down the stretch on Tuesday night. Powered by a career night from Kamilla Cardoso and a dominant two-way performance from Angel Reese, Chicago outlasted Los Angeles 97-86 capitalizing on fourth-quarter turnovers, missed shots, and a complete offensive collapse from the Sparks.
The Los Angeles Sparks looked ready to end their skid. They were aggressive early, efficient on offense, and locked in defensively, building a 12-point lead after the first quarter and shooting over 60% by halftime. For nearly three quarters, they had control.
But once again, it slipped away.
First Quarter: Sparks Start Fast
Los Angeles came out locked in, scoring quickly and playing sharp, connected basketball. Azurá Stevens got the Sparks going with a smooth three on the opening possession and followed it up with strong defense, racking up two steals, two blocks, and a rebound in the first six minutes. Kelsey Plum stayed aggressive in the paint, and Dearica Hamby anchored the frontcourt with smart interior play.
Chicago struggled early, particularly Cardoso, who forced a few tough looks inside. By the end of the quarter, the Sparks were up 29-17 and looked to be in full control.
Second Quarter: Sloppy, But Still Ahead
The Sparks slowed down to start the second, and turnovers crept in. Despite shooting a blistering 67% early in the period, they gave the ball away too often. The Sky started closing the gap behind a big three from Sarah Ashlee Barker and steady guard play from Shey Peddy.
Stevens added to her totals but also racked up four turnovers by halftime. The Sparks as a whole had 10 at the break. Still, they clung to a lead, up 48-42 at halftime, but the signs of unraveling were already there.
Third Quarter: Momentum Swings
The third quarter has often been a turning point for the Sparks, usually not in their favor, and Tuesday was no exception.
Hamby was clutch with layups, while Hailey Van Lith and Ariel Atkins fueled the Sky’s pace and spacing. Stevens crossed the 20-point threshold and added another block, but foul trouble began to loom. Cardoso hit a surprising third-quarter three, the first of her WNBA career and just the second of her entire collegiate and pro career. The first? Also against Rickea Jackson, when Cardoso was at South Carolina and Jackson at Tennessee.
Reese started to take control on the boards, helping Chicago flip the rebounding battle. By the end of the third, the Sparks were still ahead 69-67, but the Sky had all the momentum.
Fourth Quarter: The Falloff
The fourth quarter was a meltdown. The Sparks went ice cold from the floor and couldn’t string together stops. Stevens fouled out midway through the frame, removing the team’s best defender and rim protector just as Cardoso started to dominate.
The Sky took their largest lead of the night in the fourth, eight points, fueled by second-chance buckets and LA’s scoring drought. Cardoso, who finished with 27 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, added a bit of flair with her rare three-pointer and efficient post play. Reese sealed the deal with 18 points, 17 rebounds, six assists, and four steals, leading Chicago to a 28-7 advantage in second-chance points.
Plum drew a foul on a desperation three and sank all three free throws to close the gap late, but the Sparks couldn’t generate anything meaningful down the stretch.
Stevens ended the game leading the Sparks with 21 points, adding seven rebounds, four blocks, and four steals, but she also committed six turnovers and fouled out late. Plum continued her efficient scoring with 20 points and five assists. Hamby posted 15 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, while Rickea Jackson added 11 points and four assists in another solid performance.
Coach Lynne Roberts didn’t mince words about the team’s late-game struggles, saying, “So we've got to fix that and have some trust in the system and in each other and, you know, make sure we're getting great shots down the stretch.”
Hamby echoed the frustration, emphasizing the team’s mental lapses under pressure: “we got to be more mentally tough to continue to play through that and continue to, like coach said, do the things that were working in the first half and not resort to one-on-one ball.”
Stevens summed it up bluntly: “Just stick to what's working. Like, we kind of get away from that sometimes... then we start not getting stops, then we're, like, rushing on offense, and we're trying to do too many things.”
What’s Next
The Sparks now find themselves in a four-game losing streak with no clear solution. Injuries, inconsistency, and late-game execution continue to plague them. With many players still out and Stevens battling foul issues, the margin for error is razor-thin.
Until they solve their fourth-quarter issues and start taking care of the ball, games like this will keep slipping through their fingers.