LOS ANGELES — The Sparks whittled an eight-point deficit to one midway through the fourth quarter, but they could not overcome a cold-shooting night in a potentially costly 72-61 loss to the Seattle Storm on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena.

The Sparks dropped to 15-21 with their third straight loss and lost control of the eighth and final seed for the WNBA playoffs. There are four games remaining in the regular season, and for the Sparks to make the playoffs they must finish with a better record than the Chicago Sky, who are also 15-21 but hold the head-to-head tiebreaker after winning the season series (3-1).

The Sparks controlled their own destiny going into Thursday’s game – their fifth in nine days – but the path is trickier now. They host the seventh-place Washington Mystics (17-19) on Sunday at the Galen Center before embarking on a season-ending three-game trip that begins with games against the third-place Connecticut Sun (25-11) and the second-place New York Liberty (28-7) then brings them back across the country for a rematch with the Storm in Seattle.

The Sparks (15-21) no longer control their playoff destiny after a 72-61 loss at home to the Seattle Storm (11-25). It’s time to discuss the tough question… with four games remaining should the Sparks want to make the playoffs or end up in the 2024 WNBA Draft lottery? #WNBA pic.twitter.com/E8sndxkGei

— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) September 1, 2023

The Sparks were led by Nneka Ogumike (11 points, seven rebounds), Karlie Samuelson (10 points, six rebounds) and reserve forward Rae Burrell, who had a career-high 10 points in 17 minutes off the bench.

“Just staying ready on the bench,” Burrell said. “Just staying engaged and locked into the gameplan and what I had to do when I did go in. Just staying ready and bringing energy off the bench and my teammates helped me get put in good positions to get my career-high.”

Rae Burrell on her new career-high of 10 points and Karlie Samuelson on the struggles of the Sparks offense in their 72-61 loss to Seattle Thursday. Despite an adversity filled season, both explained what it would mean for the LA Sparks to still make the playoffs this season. pic.twitter.com/DPQG256oM9

— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) September 1, 2023

Seattle, already eliminated from playoff contention, improved to 11-25 behind the steady play of All-Star guard Jewell Loyd (25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists) and Sami Whitcomb (14 points). The Storm shot 38.9% from the field but enjoyed a 45-26 rebounding advantage thanks to the Sparks’ shooting struggles (30.3%). Seattle turned it over 20 times but helped offset that by going 25 for 28 from the free-throw line.

The Sparks’ offense sputtered from the outset. The hosts found themselves trailing 20-10 with 1:15 left in the first quarter, forcing Sparks coach Curt Miller to call a timeout and regroup his short-handed and fatigued nine-player rotation. After a buzzer-beating layup by Karlie Samuelson, the Sparks trailed 22-12 at the end of the period.

“We didn’t attack well … but we got some good looks,” Samuelson said. “(Jordin Canada) does a good job of finding me in transition and Nneka draws so much attention (but) tough night offensively.”

The Sparks pulled within 22-18 on a layup by Burrell early in the second, but the Storm built their lead back to 38-29 by halftime as Whitcomb scored all of her 14 points in the first half. The Sparks shot 34.3% (12 for 35) from the field in the first half, including a 1-for-8 mark from 3-point range.

A Samuelson 3-pointer helped cut the margin to 39-34 early in the third, but Seattle answered with a 7-0 run that was highlighted by a stepback 3-pointer from Loyd.

The Sparks trailed 52-44 heading into the fourth quarter despite a poor shooting night from their entire backcourt. Starting guards Jordin Canada (2 for 9) and Jasmine Thomas (0 for 6) and reserve guards Zia Cooke (1 for 10) and Evina Westbrook (0 for 2) combined to shoot 11.1% from the field (3 for 27) for the night.

“We had trouble generating good looks for them and then when we got good looks, we struggled to put it in (Thursday night),” Miller said.

Los Angeles Sparks head coach Curt Miller shares his assessment of Sparks’ 72-61 loss to the Seattle Storm Thursday. The Sparks no longer control their playoff destiny over the Chicago Sky with four games remaining in the regular season. #WNBA #WNBATwitter @InsideSoCalSpts pic.twitter.com/5FpDjMJ9Qz

— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) September 1, 2023

A steal and fast-break layup by Cooke, who finished with eight points, pulled the Sparks within 54-48 with 8:35 left. Free throws from Dearica Hamby and Cooke got the Sparks within 57-53 with 6:02 left, then a corner 3-pointer from Burrell cut the margin to 57-56 with 5:32 left. Seattle’s Loyd scored the next five points and nine straight Seattle points to end the challenge as the Storm closed the game on a 15-5 run.

“There’s a calm confidence about this group,” Miller said before the game. “They’re maybe not as fiery outwardly, but there’s a competitiveness of this group. There’s a confidence in this group going into the last five (games) that they can continue to have success and build on what we look at as the foundational year and build momentum into the postseason or even more importantly into the future.”

Curt Miller on what the LA Sparks will miss against the Seattle Storm with Layshia Clarendon out due to health and safety protocols. Miller also speaks to his team’s sense of urgency during their playoff push, defining it as “calm confidence” in his pregame media conference. pic.twitter.com/1uHi447RVP

— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) September 1, 2023

The Sparks played their second consecutive game without starting guard Layshia Clarendon, who missed both games this week due to health and safety protocols. The Sparks are 12-8 when Clarendon plays and 3-13 without her.

“Now that we’re making a push for the playoffs, of course, it definitely has that kind of (postseason) feel to it,” Thomas said before tip-off. Thomas, who previously played for the Connecticut Sun, has made the playoffs for the last six seasons.

Los Angeles Sparks guards Jasmine Thomas and Evina Westbrook on facing the Seattle Storm, the playoff like atmosphere and providing energy whenever they are on the court Thursday night. #WNBATwitter #WNBA #LASparks pic.twitter.com/XVehE6mqm5

— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) September 1, 2023

Seattle did not lack motivation despite being eliminated.

“The motivation is, this is our job to show up and play hard and compete,” said Seattle Storm head coach Noelle Quinn, a former UCLA and Bishop Montgomery High standout who played for the Sparks from 2009-11. “Obviously, wins and losses haven’t been our main focus. Our main focus is our development and the progress of our young players and even our vets who are new to our system. As far as just saying we’re the spoilers, we understand our position, but it’s about coming out with the mindset of worrying about ourselves, control our controllables and play extremely hard.”

I asked Seattle Storm coach Noelle Quinn if her team is trying to play spoiler to the Sparks playoff push. This is coach Quinn’s response. #SeattleStorm #WNBA #WNBATwitter pic.twitter.com/1zGIW6u9D4

— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) September 1, 2023

Related Articles