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Sparks’ Nneka Ogwumike shows All-Star form in victory

June 25, 2023

LOS ANGELES — On the day she was named a WNBA All-Star starter for the second consecutive season, Nneka Ogwumike had a season-high 27 points and 12 rebounds and the Sparks rallied from down 11 points late in the third quarter to beat the Dallas Wings, 93-83, on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena.

It was Ogwumike’s seventh double-double in the 13 games she has played this season.

The Sparks finished with four players in double figures as forward Dearica Hamby had 17 points, Karlie Samuelson 14 points and Jordin Canada 10 points and nine assists.

The Sparks improved to 7-7 and won their third consecutive game against Dallas, clinching the season series.

Dallas (6-8) was led by guard Arike Ogunbowale who finished with 18 points and eight assists, while Crystal Dangerfield had 18 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Teaira McCowan finished with 14 points and nine rebounds. Natasha Howard had 13 points.

After being down by seven points early in the game, the Sparks seized control with a 13-0 run in the final 2:26 in the first quarter and took a 26-18 lead into the second.

With Hamby’s free throw, the Sparks extended their lead to 12 points, 33-21, with 7:52 left in the second quarter. However, Dallas found success playing two 6-foot-7 post players Kalani Brown and McCowan in the game at the same time. Dallas went on a 10-0 run to pull with 33-31, and later tied the game at 36 on a layup by Ogunbowale with 3:56 to go before halftime.

A corner three by forward Karlie Samuelson gave the Sparks a 39-36 advantage with with 3:47 to go in the first half. The Wings took their first lead of the second quarter, 42-41 on a putback by McCowan with 1:48 to go.

Ogwumike found herself in a one-on-one isolation situation and pulled off a nifty up-and-under move to tie the game at 44 with less than five seconds to go before halftime.

After a back-and-forth start to the second, an and-one and a three-pointer on back-to-back possessions by Dallas point guard Crystal Dangerfield extended the Wings’ lead to 67-57 with 2:59 left in the third quarter. Ogunbowale went 2 of 2 from the free throw and the Sparks trailed 71-60 with 1:56 left in the third.

A 12-2 run over the next two minutes, capped by an and-one by Ogwumike, pulled the Sparks to within two, 71-69 with 48.3 seconds left in the third quarter. The Sparks trailed 73-71 heading into the fourth.

Destanni Henderson’s baseline jumper gave the Sparks their first lead of the fourth quarter, 76-75, with 6:19 left.

From that point, the Sparks closed the game on a 17-8 run to win the game.

Before tipoff, Ogwumike explained how it felt to be named a WNBA All-Starter for the second consecutive season.

“I definitely feel blessed to be still playing this deep into my career and also feeling the way that I’m feeling to put up numbers that helped me become an All-Star and ultimately a starter,” said Ogwumike, 32. “I was already grateful to be named an All-Star the first time it happened.

“I don’t really do it for these things, but it’s teammates that put me in those positions to help me be my best for them, and that also makes things a lot easier for me. I just want to win. I want to do good for my teammates. That’s really what it’s all about, but I’m very grateful to be this deep into my career and still productive.”

Nneka Ogwumike on being named and All-Star Starter for the second consecutive season and wanting to play alongside Aliyah Boston in the 2023 All-Star Game in Las Vegas. Ogwumike also shouted out South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley for preparing all her players for the WNBA. pic.twitter.com/AE9Tpurnks

— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) June 25, 2023

Sparks head coach Curt Miller was also excited to share his reaction to Ogwumike being named a WNBA All-Star for the eighth time. Miller believes Ogwumike is in the midst of what will possibly go down as the best year in her 12-year WNBA career.

“Huge news when we found out over the weekend and so happy for her, and she’ll be the first to say she doesn’t play on the court by herself and it’s a credit to the team, but a third into this WNBA season, arguably the best start to a season in her career, and I’m glad that voters recognized what she’s doing and how she’s the leader of our team, both on and off the court,” Miller said.

LA Sparks head coach Curt Miller on Nneka Ogwumike being named a WNBA All-Star and the importance of trying to win the season series on Sunday against a talented Dallas Wings team. pic.twitter.com/gY8aRkXUBX

— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) June 25, 2023

This week was also a homecoming for Dallas Wings head coach Latricia Trammell, who was a Sparks assistant coach for the past four seasons.

“It’s always good coming back,” Tramell said. “You get to see a lot of people that you built relationships with. I had a great experience here in L.A., and I’m just honored and pleased to be the head coach of the Dallas Wings and coming back and reconnecting with a lot of great people.”

Dallas Wings head coach Latricia Trammell on Arike Ogunbowale and Satou Sabally being named WNBA All-Star Starters. @TrammellCoach also talks about being back in LA and support Natasha Howard’s fiancée on Basketball Wives. #WNBATwitter #WNBA pic.twitter.com/Ehgw8hoX9T

— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) June 25, 2023

More to come on this story.

Orange County Register

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Sparks’ Nneka Ogwumike shows All-Star form in victory

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