LOS ANGELES — In one of the most nerve-wracking finishes of the WNBA season, the Los Angeles Sparks survived a furious New York Liberty challenge to claim a 98-97 victory Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena, escaping with a single-point margin that had the home crowd on its feet until the final buzzer.
Nneka Ogwumike was the engine that drove Los Angeles, pouring in a game-high 24 points to lead all scorers on either side. Her ability to create offense in the paint and draw contact proved essential as the Sparks navigated a Liberty squad that refused to go quietly. Kelsey Plum orchestrated the offense with precision, distributing 7 assists to keep Los Angeles in rhythm, while Dearica Hamby anchored the glass with 8 rebounds, providing the Sparks with crucial second-chance opportunities throughout the contest.
New York, for its part, made this anything but comfortable for the home team. Breanna Stewart was a force on both ends of the floor, finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds — a double-double that kept the Liberty competitive deep into the fourth quarter. Satou Sabally matched Plum’s playmaking output with 7 assists of her own, helping New York generate enough ball movement to stay within striking distance.
The Liberty’s offensive efficiency told the story of a team that had every statistical reason to believe it could pull off the road win. New York connected on 34 of 69 field goal attempts for a 49 percent clip and knocked down 13 three-pointers on 36 attempts, shooting 36 percent from beyond the arc. The Liberty also converted 16 of 19 free throw attempts at an 84 percent rate, meaning Los Angeles had very little margin for error on the defensive end.
Where New York ultimately hurt itself was at the turnover line. The Liberty committed 16 individual turnovers, with a total of 17 when team turnovers are factored in — a number that gifted the Sparks extra possessions at critical junctures. Despite pulling down 38 total rebounds, including 9 on the offensive glass, New York could not fully capitalize on those second opportunities when it mattered most.
The game was a back-and-forth affair that showcased the talent on both rosters. Los Angeles leaned on Ogwumike’s scoring and Plum’s floor generalship to maintain just enough of an edge, while New York’s Stewart repeatedly answered with buckets and boards to keep the deficit within reach. The Liberty’s 23 team assists reflected a cohesive offensive approach, but turnovers at inopportune moments allowed the Sparks to preserve their slim advantage.
In the end, a single point separated these two teams, and it was the Sparks who earned the right to celebrate on their home floor. The victory is a meaningful one for Los Angeles, reinforcing their standing as a legitimate contender and delivering a statement win over one of the Eastern Conference’s premier franchises. For the Liberty, the loss stings given how close they came, and the turnover total will be the first item on the film session agenda when they regroup.
