LOS ANGELES — In her first game since being named a reserve for the WNBA All-Star Game, Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike scored a team-high 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead her team to a much-needed 106-92 victory over the Indiana Fever on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena.
Guard Rae Burrell scored 22 points and Dearica Hamby had 21 points and nine rebounds, as all five Sparks starters scored in double figures to snap a three-game losing streak. Guards Erica Wheeler and Ariel Atkins each added 12 points.
The Sparks (9-11) won for the first time without All-Star guard Kelsey Plum (leg) and center Cameron Brink (ankle), who are sidelined indefinitely with injuries.
All-Star guard Kelsey Mitchell scored a game-high 29 points for Indiana (12-9), which saw its two-game win streak end. Lexie Hull scored 14 points, Damaris Dantas added 12 and Tyasha Harris scored 10. Fever All-Star Caitlin Clark was held to nine points and played on a minutes restriction after the guard sat out the previous two games with a back injury.
The Sparks shot 50.6% from the field (40 for 79), including 45% from 3-point range (9 for 20).
Burrell’s corner 3-pointer gave the Sparks an 82-71 lead heading into the fourth quarter, and they held on over the final 10 minutes behind a defense that held the Fever to 42.9% shooting overall (33 for 77).
The Sparks trailed 25-21 after one period, but they first seized the momentum when an Ogwumike 3-pointer gave them a 36-34 lead with 3:46 left in the second quarter. Consecutive layups by Hamby (13 first-half points) and Burrell made it 40-34, and they continued to surge to a 48-41 lead by halftime.
Before the game, Clark said she knew the Sparks were a dangerous team.
“Our message has always been this isn’t a team you come in and overlook,” Clark said. “That’s not what this team is. They’re very capable. They’re looking for that one win to really get them going, to build a streak, to give them some energy, to give them some confidence, so we approach it like every other game. You respect every single opponent that you face and I think especially in this league. Anybody can beat anybody. You’ve seen it across the league this year. If you don’t respect the person on the other bench, you’re going to be in trouble.”
Sparks coach Lynne Roberts wanted her team to make a concerted effort to maintain awareness of Clark at all times.
“Indiana is good,” Roberts said before the game. “I think the thing that Caitlin helps them with is they play fast and I think she helps them play faster. We’ve got to be really aware of that.”
Indiana coach Stephanie White said before the game that Clark will sit out the second game of a back-to-back on Thursday in Phoenix.
“It’s been a long time since she’s played (on June 24),” White explained. “We want to get her on the floor as much as we can. I think for her and really managing the minutes, we’ll just kind of gauge it as it goes.”
Fever All-Star center Aliyah Boston sat out with a leg injury against the Sparks. She is expected to play against Phoenix on Thursday.
“We need to win,” Roberts said. “I don’t like being outcome-driven, but what this team needs right now is to find a way to win, find ways to win and every night could be different. You’re missing your best offensive and defensive players. You’re going to have to be creative.”
ALL-STAR HONORS
Plum and Ogwumike were selected by the league’s head coaches as 2026 WNBA All-Star reserves Tuesday night.
“It’s great,” Roberts said. “I’m happy for them. I think there’s a lot of unanimous feeling that KP should be a starter if you look at her numbers and what she’s achieved, but still proud of them both. Nneka, this is her 11th All-Star Game. That’s unbelievable. I’ve been impressed with her since the moment she and I got to work together, very well-deserved.”
Ogwumike said being named an All-Star means so much to her.
“Obviously, being able to do it in a Sparks jersey is incredible,” Ogwumike said at Wednesday’s shootaround practice. “I don’t normally go for these types of goals. I just try to do my job every day, but I am very grateful that I was voted in to be considered an All-Star. The talent that’s coming into this league is incredible, and so I’m happy to be celebrating with me.”
However, Ogwumike said earning her 11th All-Star nod in 15 seasons was not necessarily a personal goal this season.
“I don’t want to dismiss the importance of this type of accomplishment,” Ogwumike continued, “but I think my goal is to be healthy and to just try to win games and be the best that I can for my team.”
The Sparks legend said she’s happy to be named an All-Star alongside Plum, the team’s leading scorer.
“She really sets the precedent on our squad, and it’s very different when she’s not out there, but she has put in some serious work,” Ogwumike explained. “It was a no-brainer in my opinion for her to be voted one, could have easily been a starter. I’m happy that we have good Sparks representation in Chicago.”
MILESTONE APPROACHING
With 6,196 career points in a Sparks uniform, Ogwumike is a mere 68 away from passing Lisa Leslie as the Sparks’ all-time leading scorer (6,263).
“I think it’s definitely an indication of how long I’ve been playing,” Ogwumike said, “but to be able to do a lot of what I’ve done in the W in a Sparks jersey, to me to be in consideration with all of these other greats that I looked up to and even played with, it’s kind of surreal in a lot of ways.”
UP NEXT
The Sparks will conclude their three-game homestand against the Chicago Sky (7-14) on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena.
Nneka Ogwumike on being named a WNBA All-Star for the 11th time in her career, this time alongside Kelsey Plum as the Los Angeles Sparks representatives in Chicago. pic.twitter.com/AMDogOBnr1
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) July 8, 2026
Lynne Roberts on Kelsey Plum and Nneka Ogwumike being named 2026 WNBA All-Star reserves and how much the Los Angeles Sparks need a win against the Indiana Fever. pic.twitter.com/UEYBcfV0vL
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) July 8, 2026