Nneka Ogwumike starred with an impressive all-round performance, finishing with 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists as the Los Angeles Sparks defeated the Indiana Fever 106-92 on Wednesday night. The victory ended the Sparks’ three-game losing streak and came against an Indiana side boosted by the return of Caitlin Clark.
Clark was back on the court after missing the previous two games with a back injury, but the Fever guard was unable to make her usual impact. She scored nine points in 16 minutes as Indiana fell to 12-9 on the season, while the Sparks produced one of their strongest performances to secure a convincing win.
Los Angeles Sparks Defeat Indiana Fever as Caitlin Clark Returns From Injury
The Los Angeles Sparks turned the tables on the Indiana Fever with an impressive 106-92 victory at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday, avenging the heavy defeat they suffered just two weeks earlier. Nneka Ogwumike led the way with 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while Rae Burrell added 22 points. Dearica Hamby contributed 21 points and nine rebounds, and Erica Wheeler and Ariel Atkins chipped in with 12 points each as the Sparks snapped their three-game losing streak despite missing Kelsey Plum and Cameron Brink.
Los Angeles took control after halftime and never looked back. Ariel Atkins sparked a 7-2 run early in the third quarter with a steal and fast-break layup, helping the Sparks build a double-digit advantage. Dominating inside the paint with 60 points, they consistently broke through Indiana’s defense and carried an 82-71 lead into the final quarter before sealing a convincing win. The Sparks will next host the Chicago Sky on Friday.
Why the Indiana Fever Fell Short Against the Los Angeles Sparks
Indiana, meanwhile, struggled to cope without star center Aliyah Boston, who missed the game due to a right leg injury, while Caitlin Clark returned from a back injury under a minutes restriction. Clark finished with nine points in 16 minutes, shooting 4-of-12 from the field, as the Fever missed Boston’s presence in the paint throughout the contest. Kelsey Mitchell tried to keep Indiana in the game with 29 points, while Lexie Hull scored 14, Damiris Dantas added 12 and Tyasha Harris contributed 10.
The Fever’s problems went beyond injuries. Early foul trouble for Monique Billings and Myisha Hines-Allen forced head coach Stephanie White to rely on an inexperienced frontcourt, allowing the Sparks to dominate inside. White also lost her coach’s challenge in the opening quarter, leaving her without another review for the remainder of the game. Just days after defeating the league-leading Las Vegas Aces, Indiana delivered another inconsistent performance and will now look to bounce back when it faces the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday.
