Nneka Ogwumike scores season-high 26 as Seattle Storm beat Sparks 95-79
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 11: Jordan Horston #23 and Nneka Ogwumike #3 of the Seattle Storm react during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Sparks at Climate Pledge Arena on June 11, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
SEATTLE - Nneka Ogwumike scored a season-high 26 points against her former team, Jewell Loyd added 21 points and the Seattle Storm beat the Los Angeles Sparks 95-79 on Tuesday night.
Seattle has won seven of its last eight games, with the lone loss coming against Minnesota on Sunday.
Seattle scored on four straight possessions down the stretch to seal it. Skylar Diggins-Smith drove into the lane and passed it out to Ogwumike for a corner 3-pointer to make it 79-70. Diggins-Smith added a 3-pointer on Seattle’s next possession for a 12-point lead. Ogwumike capped the 8-0 run.
Diggins-Smith finished with 19 points, five rebounds and six assists for Seattle. Sami Whitcomb made three 3-pointers to finish with nine points. Ezi Magbegor grabbed 13 boards to help the Storm outrebound the Sparks 45-33.
Li Yueru scored a career-high 18 points for Los Angeles (4-8). Dearica Hamby had 16 points, 11 rebounds and five assists, and Aari McDonald added 15 points off the bench.
Ogwumike recorded her 364th straight game with at least one rebound, breaking a tie with Lisa Leslie for the second-longest streak in WNBA history behind Candace Parker with 410. Magbegor had her eighth straight game with at least three blocks.
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf sat courtside and chatted with Loyd after the game.