Photo Credit: Los Angeles Sparks/Instagram
By: Jennifer Portee
Nneka Ogwumike had 20 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, becoming the fourth player in WNBA history to score 8,000 career points as the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Portland Fire 105-84 on Sunday night.
Ogwumike entered the game 13 points from the milestone and finished with 8,013 career points. She joined Diana Taurasi, Tina Charles and DeWanna Bonner as the only players in league history with at least 8,000 points.
Rae Burrell also scored 20 points for Los Angeles, Ariel Atkins added 14 and Chance Gray had 11. The Sparks improved to 16-26.
The Fire fell to 16-27, losing their fourth straight game and seventh in eight games.
Portland pulled within 21-19 when Tonie Morgan hit a 3-pointer with 2:03 remaining in the first quarter. Los Angeles took control from there and never trailed again.
The Sparks outscored Portland 32-15 in the second quarter to build a 60-41 halftime lead. Burrell scored 10 points in the period as Los Angeles pushed the pace and found open looks from the perimeter.
Los Angeles shot 53% from the field, made 14 of 29 3-point attempts and went 25-for-29 from the free-throw line.
Carla Leite led Portland with 23 points on 7-for-10 shooting. Charisma Osborne scored a career-high 13 points, while Megan DiLeo added 11 and Emily Engstler finished with 10.
Los Angeles honored Sparks legend Lisa Leslie before the game with the unveiling of her statue outside Crypto.com Arena. Leslie, a three-time WNBA MVP and Hall of Famer, spent her entire WNBA career with the Sparks and helped the franchise win championships in 2001 and 2002.
Photo Credit: WNBA/Instagram
Bridget Carleton missed the game for Portland with an ankle injury. Dearica Hamby was out for Los Angeles with a knee injury, and Cameron Brink did not play because of an ankle injury.
Portland hosts Golden State on Tuesday in its regular-season finale. Los Angeles visits Las Vegas on Tuesday.