LOS ANGELES — Nneka Ogwumike and Dearica Hamby combined for 42 points, but the Sparks could not overcome Angel Reese’s WNBA record 26 rebounds in a 78-71 loss to the Atlanta Dream on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena.
The soon-to-retire Ogwumike, who finished with a game-high 27 points and 16 rebounds, had a double-double by the end of the third quarter, but the shorthanded Sparks came up short with guard Rae Burrell (14.4 points per game) sidelined with an illness.
The Sparks trailed 62-55 heading into the fourth quarter and were never able to make it a two-possession game late.
Hamby finished with 15 points. Forward Cameron Brink had 15 points, eight rebounds and five blocked shots in 25 minutes off the bench. Guard Ariel Atkins added 10 points.
Second-year guard Monique Akoa Makani, who was acquired from the Phoenix Mercury in the Kelsey Plum trade, started in Burrell’s place. She finished with two points and two steals in 19 minutes in her first start with her new team.
The Sparks (13-25), already eliminated from the race for a playoff berth, have lost 14 of their past 17 games, a stretch that includes a pair of six-game losing streaks.
“This group has been in good spirits,” Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said after Monday morning’s shootaround practice. “They want to win. They’re pissed when we lose. We all are, but they believe in what we’re doing and each other. And so I’ve been really impressed and proud of their commitment to the culture and doing things the right way with their work ethic and all that.”
Allisha Gray scored a team-high 20 points, and Rhyne Howard had 18 points for Atlanta (25-13), while Reese scored 11 points to go with her 26 boards. Naz Hillmon added 12 points for the Dream, who won their fourth straight game.
The Sparks struggled early, missing 12 of their first 16 shots from the field. They trailed 20-15 at the end of the first quarter after Hillmon banked in a 3-pointer before the buzzer.
Ogwumike and Hamby helped the hosts outscore Atlanta 22-13 in the second quarter, but their lead was just 37-36 at halftime after Hillmon hit a 3-pointer before the break.
The Dream started the second half with a 16-6 run and held a 52-43 lead midway through the third quarter.
Reese, who averaged 24 points, 11.3 rebounds and 3.7 steals to help Atlanta go 3-0 against Las Vegas, the Sparks and Phoenix last week, was exceptional again.
“Just staying consistent and trusting my work,” she said before the game. “Just having my teammates always pour into me and having my back through the tough games and the rough games. They’re always there for me through my highs and my lows, so I’m really thankful for them. I wouldn’t be here without them.”
Atlanta coach Karl Smesko said Reese’s recent run has been impressive, but he’s not sure how to help her keep it up for the rest of the season, especially with the WNBA’s FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Break coming up between Aug. 31 and Sept. 16.
“I don’t know if there’s any perfect way for how to keep it going,” Smesko said. “Hopefully, we’re able to create the same opportunities through defensive plays, through her screening and getting behind people. She’s been doing a great job finishing on making a move before attacking the basket, and I think everybody is moving the ball, sharing the ball, offensive movement has been really good, so hopefully, the whole team is locked in to what we’re trying to get accomplished.”
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Sparks guard Kate Martin, who was upgraded from a developmental player contract to a standard contract last month, has consistently been at the end of Roberts’ bench rotation and did not play in the team’s 77-68 victory over Connecticut on Saturday, despite the Sparks leading by as much as 22 points in the second half. She received her second straight DNP – Coach’s Decision on Monday.
“I love Kate,” Roberts explained at shootaround. “She’s an incredible member of this team. The rotations are tough with the amount of guys we have in that position. We’ve got Rae Burrell, Ariel (Atkins), JP (Jihyun Park), Chance (Gray), Monique (Akoa Makani). There’s a lot of players, so it’s hard to play 12 people.”
Roberts was asked whether one reason for Martin’s limited playing time is that she’s a third-year player who is more of a known commodity than rookies like Park, Gray, and Akoa Maki, a newly acquired second-year player.
“Yeah, there’s some of that for sure,” Roberts briefly responded.
Martin, who is Caitlin Clark’s former Iowa teammate, said she’s making the most of the final month of the season no matter what minutes she does or doesn’t get.
“I’m getting in my extra workouts,” Martin said. “Controlling what I can control, being a good teammate and just staying ready if my name is called.”
The Sparks will have the next few days off before hosting the Washington Mystics on Friday, which will conclude their four-game homestand.