SEATTLE — Nneka Ogwumike scored a season-high 24 points against her former team, Kelsey Plum added 19 points and 11 assists, and the Sparks beat the Seattle Storm, 88-83, on Wednesday night to begin a three-game road trip.
Ogwumike, who spent the past two seasons in Seattle, also grabbed nine rebounds to move into fourth on the WNBA career list, passing Rebekkah Brunson.
Cameron Brink added 15 points off the bench, Erica Wheeler scored 10 and Dearica Hamby grabbed 10 rebounds for the Sparks (6-6) in the Commissioner’s Cup game.
Natisha Hiedeman shook off a slow start to score 16 points for Seattle (3-11), which has lost seven straight games. Dominique Malonga scored 15, rookie Flau’jae Johnson added 14 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, Awa Fam had 12 points and Jordan Horston added 11 as all five Seattle starters scored in double figures.
Chance Gray made three free throws with 8:27 left in the fourth quarter to give the Sparks a lead (72-70) they would not relinquish.
The Sparks were called for a defensive foul on a drive by Horston with 28.9 seconds left in the fourth, but it was overturned after a review. The Sparks took possession, leading 86-83, but Plum missed a long jumper and Seattle called a timeout with 12.1 seconds left.
Seattle struggled to get off a quick shot and settled for a long 3-point attempt by Hiedeman that hit off the rim. Plum sealed it by making two free throws with 1.6 seconds left.
The Sparks shot 38.7% from the field (29 for 75), including 9 for 35 from 3-point range. The Storm shot 46.9% (30 for 64) and were 9 for 29 from behind the arc.
Hamby opened the third quarter with a layup to break a halftime tie before Seattle scored 11 straight points – with Hiedeman capping the run with a long jumper and a 3-pointer – for a 51-42 lead.
Brink made two free throws and a layup off an offensive rebound to pull the Sparks within 67-66 entering the fourth.
Malonga made a turnaround jumper and a 3-pointer in the opening minute of the game before Horston added a jumper to give the Storm an early 7-0 lead 2:12 in.
The Sparks responded with a 10-0 run thanks to back-to-back 3-pointers by Plum.
After Seattle tied it at 14-14, Brink scored eight straight points on her own – including a three-point play and a 3-pointer – to give the Sparks their largest lead of the period.
Horston closed the quarter with a 3-pointer to pull Seattle within 22-17.
Plum made a pair of driving layups to give the Sparks a 34-25 lead with 3:56 left in the first half.
Malonga made two jumpers and Johnson added a 3-pointer and a jumper in an 11-0 streak as Seattle regained the lead at 36-34 with 1:07 left.
Rae Burrell made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to forge the halftime tie.
UP NEXT
The Sparks play at Phoenix on Saturday at 7 p.m.