Skylar Diggins-Smith steers Storm past Sparks

Field Level Media|published: Thu 12th September, 24:22 2024

WNBA: Seattle Storm at Los Angeles Sparks

Sep 11, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; LA Sparks forward Rickea Jackson (2) is defended by Seattle Storm forward Gabby Williams (5) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Skylar Diggins-Smith recorded 26 points, five assists, four steals and three blocked shots while leading the Seattle Storm to a 90-82 victory over the host Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday night.

Gabby Williams scored 17 points and Nneka Ogwumike had 16 points and eight rebounds for the Storm (22-14), who recovered from a 13-point second-quarter deficit. Ezi Magbegor contributed 14 points and eight rebounds and Jewell Loyd scored 12 points for Seattle despite 3-of-15 shooting.

Diggins-Smith made 10 of 13 field-goal attempts one game after becoming the Seattle franchise record holder for assists in a single season. Her total sits at 232 after the Wednesday game.

Rickea Jackson registered 22 points and seven rebounds and Azura Stevens added 18 points and 15 rebounds for the Sparks (7-30), who lost their sixth consecutive contest. Odyssey Sims had 16 points and six assists and Rae Burrell scored 14 points for Los Angeles.

Jackson's basket gave the Sparks their last lead at 72-70 with 6:35 left in fourth quarter. Seattle answered with a 14-4 burst to put the game away.

Diggins-Smith made a jumper and Sami Whitcomb followed with a tiebreaking 3-pointer to give Seattle a 75-72 lead with 5:45 remaining.

Loyd made two free throws with 32.3 seconds left to end the spurt as Seattle led 84-76 while improving to 3-0 against Los Angeles this season.

Seattle shot 47.1 percent from the field, including 6 of 19 (31.6 percent) from 3-point range.

The Sparks hit 49.2 percent from the floor and went 7 of 17 (41.2 percent) from 3-point range. Stevens matched her career high of four 3-pointers.

The game was tied before Seattle opened the third quarter with a 9-3 run, the last two baskets coming from Diggins-Smith to give the Storm a 50-44 lead with 8:10 remaining.

The Sparks battled back to tie it after 58 on two free throws by Jackson with 2:39 left.

Diggins-Smith scored the final four points of a quarter-ending 6-0 burst as Seattle took a 66-60 lead into the fourth quarter.

Earlier, Los Angeles held a 30-17 lead after a trey by Stevens with 7:52 left in the second period.

The Storm went on a 12-2 half-ending surge, and Williams' 3-pointer tied it at 41 with one minute to go.

Williams had 15 first-half points. Stevens had 14 points and nine rebounds in the half for Los Angeles.

--Field Level Media