Valkyries vs sparks: The Golden State Valkyries survived a furious fourth-quarter comeback from the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday, earning an 84-78 victory. The Sparks fell into a large early deficit but mounted a late rally that made the game a one-point contest before Golden State regained control in the final minute.
Los Angeles struggled from the opening minutes, committing five early turnovers and allowing Golden State to score 29 points in the first quarter. The Valkyries maintained their advantage through the first half, taking a 45-32 lead into halftime.
Sparks Make a Late Push
The Sparks finally found their rhythm in the fourth quarter. Los Angeles used a 16-5 run to cut deeply into Golden State’s advantage, with Nneka Ogwumike and Erica Wheeler leading the comeback effort.
An Ariel Atkins three-pointer with 2:18 remaining pulled the Sparks within one point. After Golden State answered with a three, Wheeler responded with another long-range shot with 1:38 left, again making it a one-point game.
The comeback, however, stopped just short. Ogwumike missed a potential tying attempt with 52 seconds remaining, and the Valkyries responded with key baskets to create enough separation. Wheeler then missed two three-point attempts in the final 30 seconds as Golden State closed out the victory.
Golden State Protects Its Lead
Cecilia Zandalasini led the Valkyries with 15 points and was perfect from three-point range, making all five of her attempts. Golden State’s perimeter shooting helped the team establish its early advantage and ultimately withstand Los Angeles’ fourth-quarter surge.
For the Sparks, Ogwumike finished with a team-high 16 points, while Wheeler added 15. Cameron Brink contributed seven points, seven rebounds and two steals despite battling foul trouble during the game.
The loss was another difficult result for Los Angeles, which has now dropped eight of its last 10 games. The Sparks entered the matchup at 12-19 and remain six games behind Dallas for the final playoff position, with 13 games remaining in the regular season.
Despite the defeat, the fourth-quarter response gave Los Angeles some encouragement. The Sparks showed resilience after trailing by as many as 19 points, but Golden State’s ability to execute during the closing moments proved decisive.
The Sparks will now turn their attention to their next matchup against Phoenix, while the Valkyries continue their strong season with a 23-9 record.
Source: latimes
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