Though not an official rivalry steeped in custom simply but, the competitiveness between California’s two WNBA groups suggests the beginning of 1.
With the Sparks and Golden State Valkyries making an attempt to leap begin new eras for his or her respective franchises, the assembly marked the third conflict between the groups in as many weeks — and it left the Sparks emotionally and bodily bruised.
On their first street journey to Southern California on Friday, the enlargement Valkyries exacted revenge on one of many WNBA’s constitution members, holding off a late Sparks comeback in an 82-73 win.
The Sparks’ frustration was evident after the sport. Coach Lynne Roberts seemed displeased. Beside her, rookie Sarah Ashlee Barker sat stone-faced, a contemporary shiner darkening the world beneath her proper eye. Dearica Hamby rested her head in her palms, her responses to questions from the media temporary and subdued.
“They beat us tonight,” Roberts stated. “They were more connected. They played harder. They played with more intensity.”
What started as a back-and-forth battle rapidly underscored how evenly matched the 2 groups are regardless of being at totally different levels. The ultimate rating urged a detailed recreation, however for a lot of the night time, it seemed like it will be a Valkyries rout.
The Sparks surged to an early 20-9 lead behind robust play from Odyssey Sims, Kelsey Plum and Dearica Hamby. Sims hit three early three-pointers and Plum added six factors fueled by defensive stress and steals. Hamby anchored the inside with bodily play.
However very like their earlier two matchups, inconsistency rapidly crept in for the Sparks (1-3). The Sparks’ struggles emerged after halftime of their final two video games. This time, the unraveling got here earlier.
“We stopped following the game plan,” Roberts stated. “It’s bad — we’ve got to fix it. We need to put together a full 40 minutes. We haven’t done that yet.”
A second-quarter collapse — marked by defensive breakdowns and offensive stagnation — put L.A. in a gap too massive to beat. Getting into the interval with a two-point lead, Golden State went on an 18-0 run to take a 45-26 lead.
Golden State (2-1) shot 10 for 18 (55.6%) from the sphere within the second quarter, trying each bit like a group decided to avenge its two earlier losses — one within the preseason and the opposite of their season opener.
In the meantime, the Sparks appeared far faraway from the cohesion and toughness they confirmed in a loss to the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday — the form of progress coach Lynne Roberts pointed to as an indication of early-season progress. The Sparks didn’t register a area purpose within the second quarter till the two:36 mark.
L.A. trailed 49-35 at halftime after capturing simply 2 for 16 from the sphere and scoring 9 factors within the second quarter.
From the beginning, the Valkyries’ recreation plan centered on containing Kelsey Plum, who erupted for 37 factors towards them on Might 16. Golden State’s protection swarmed Plum with traps and compelled the ball out of her palms, limiting her to 16 factors on six-of-18 capturing, together with two for 10 from past the arc. She additionally had 4 steals.
Golden State’s lead hovered round 15 factors for a lot of the third quarter. The Sparks solely started to chip away on the deficit within the fourth quarter.
A 3-pointer from Plum minimize the Valkyries’ result in 73-63 with slightly below six minutes remaining. Moments later, Hamby powered to the rim by means of heavy contact, changing a tricky layup and drawing the foul. Her profitable free throw made it an eight-point recreation.
Hamby continued to take cost, capturing a three-pointer with 2:32 left to make it a five-point recreation.
“We definitely picked up the defensive energy,” Hamby stated of the fourth-quarter effort. “We got some good hustle plays and tried to build momentum — but I want to win, so I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”
However that was as shut because the Sparks would get after Hamby fouled Kayla Thornton on a three-point try. Thornton made all three of her free-throw makes an attempt.
Robert favored what she noticed from the Sparks within the fourth quarter, however she desires to see that urgency deployed earlier and all through the sport.
“We can’t wait,” Roberts stated. “We did show toughness — we didn’t fold. They kept competing, and we made it a game. … But why does it take us 30 minutes to play like that?”
Hamby scored 10 of her 25 factors within the fourth quarter. She additionally had six rebounds and three blocks. Sims completed with 13 factors because the Sparks suffered their third consecutive loss. Carla Leite led Golden State with 19 factors.
Golden State’s win marked a particular homecoming for Anaheim native and Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase, who stated she felt a wave of emotion because the group flew into L.A. Seeing acquainted landmarks from the window of the airplane — together with her childhood houses — stirred recollections of her father and the trail that led her to turning into a WNBA coach. Nasake served as an assistant coach underneath Clippers coach Doc Rivers.
“It’s like seeing the ushers — a lot of them I’ve known for a long time, and they’re just saying congratulations and what an accomplishment,” stated Nakase of the surreal feeling of successful at Crypto.com Enviornment. “It’s nice to see a lot of familiar faces.”
