​In an alternate universe, the Sparks’ Friday victory over Chicago might have served as a barometer for whether general manager Raegan Pebley’s decision to trade Rickea Jackson to the Sky paid off. Jackson, who never got the chance to exact revenge after tearing her ACL in May, left the Sparks with a 102-87 win at Crypto.com Arena that could hardly be described as a definitive litmus test. Veteran guard Ariel Atkins, who was dealt to the Sparks in the Jackson trade, delivered her best game of the season, finishing with a season-high 17 points.
The Sparks flashed their potential on the way to a second consecutive win, even without All-Star Kelsey Plum, who was sidelined with a lower left leg issue, and Cameron Brink, who sat with a left ankle problem. Nneka Ogwumike, the Sparks’ other All-Star, posted 25 points and 12 rebounds, while Erica Wheeler contributed 15 points and eight assists. The game provided a glimpse of what the Sparks might become, even as they remained a game under .500 with a 10-11 record and still a long way from establishing themselves as legitimate postseason contenders. Chicago has also faced its share of trouble, aside from a win over Phoenix this week, and has been mired in controversy surrounding veteran guard Skylar Diggins, who did not play due to a knee issue.
After a disastrous showing against Seattle on Monday, the Sparks could have cratered. Instead, their season has regained a pulse. For the second consecutive game, all five Sparks starters reached double figures in scoring. The opening 10-2 run gave way to a determined Chicago squad that stayed within reach throughout the second quarter, and the Sparks led 73-70 heading into the final period before breaking the game open midway through the fourth.
Ogwumike supplied a pivotal fourth quarter, scoring nine of her 25 points to help seal the victory. The Sparks totaled 25 points off 15 Sky turnovers and compiled a season-high 32 assists, shooting 51 percent from the floor. Emma Cannon, contributing 12 minutes and nine points, provided a crucial post presence late in the game while Chicago’s Kamilla Cardoso battled foul trouble. Still, Cannon’s contributions weren’t enough to swing momentum back in Chicago’s favor.
Ogwumike continued to climb the Sparks’ all-time assists list, moving into fifth place with her third assist of the first quarter, surpassing Mwadi Mabika. The Sparks sit half a game outside the final playoff berth, a respectable position given some inconsistent performances this season. The team now heads to Atlanta to face the Dream on Monday, a matchup that offers another opportunity to prove their resilience against a slumping opponent.
For fans seeking updated insights from the L.A. sports scene and beyond, a daily digest of the most compelling and unusual stories is available through The Sports Report newsletter. This piece originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times, and its reshaped narrative aims to optimize readability and SEO relevance while preserving the essence of the game’s key moments and implications.