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 and Dearica Hamby grabbed 10 rebounds for the Sparks (6-6) in the Commissioner’s Cup game.
Natisha Hiedeman scored 16 points for Seattle (3-11), which has lost seven straight games. Dominique Malonga scored 15, Flau’jae Johnson added 14, Awa Fam had 12 and Jordan Horston 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.
UP NEXT
The Sparks play at Phoenix on Saturday at 7 p.m.