LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Sparks continued their scorching run of form Thursday night, defeating the Connecticut Sun 102-91 at Crypto.com Arena for their eighth victory in nine games. Behind six double-digit scorers, an elite shooting night from deep, and another vintage performance from Kelsey Plum, the Sparks showcased the offensive balance that has fueled their midseason turnaround.
Los Angeles (14-15) reached the 100-point mark for the fifth time in their last six outings, underscoring the offensive rhythm that has transformed them into one of the league’s hottest teams. Plum led all scorers with 30 points — her second-highest output of the season — while adding six assists, two steals, and connecting on four of seven attempts from three-point range.
Dearica Hamby delivered her usual energy and versatility, recording 20 points and 11 rebounds despite a tough night from the free-throw line (2-of-9). Azurá Stevens was everywhere, finishing with 17 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals, and three blocks.
Julie Allemand provided perhaps the most unexpected highlight, notching her first career triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists, punctuated by a late fourth-quarter layup to secure the milestone.
Off the bench, Julie Vanloo chipped in nine points, and rookie Cameron Brink scored all 11 of her points in the second half, giving Los Angeles critical depth contributions.
The Sun (5-24) opened with resilience, riding the hot hand of Tina Charles and Marina Mabrey, who scored 19 points each. Bria Hartley added 16 points, and rookie Leila Lacan recorded 10 points and seven assists. Connecticut knocked down 7-of-14 threes in the first half, helping them build a slim 51-49 halftime lead.
The first quarter was a back-and-forth shootout, featuring 11 lead changes. While Los Angeles opened the second quarter on a 10-0 run, Connecticut stayed within striking distance thanks to Hartley’s sharpshooting and Charles’ veteran scoring touch.
For much of the game, Plum’s offense came in spurts, but her scoring flurries were perfectly timed. She didn’t register her first field goal until late in the third quarter, but it was a momentum-shifting three-pointer that gave Los Angeles a 69-64 lead. From there, she stayed aggressive, hitting her fourth three-pointer of the night in the fourth quarter off Allemand’s 10th assist — a play that effectively sealed the win.
The Sparks finished 11-of-25 from beyond the arc and 21-of-26 from the free-throw line, overcoming earlier struggles at the stripe that saw them shoot just 36% in the first half.
By the midway point of the third quarter, the Sparks began to pull away. Hamby’s hustle plays, Stevens’ timely buckets, and Allemand’s orchestration gave Los Angeles a nine-point cushion heading into the final frame. The lead ballooned to 20 in the fourth before head coach Curt Miller emptied the bench in the closing minutes.
Defensively, Los Angeles tightened up after the break, limiting Connecticut’s perimeter looks and forcing them into contested mid-range shots. Despite committing 15 turnovers, the Sparks’ ability to push the pace and score efficiently kept them comfortably ahead.
The Sparks’ recent success has been fueled by their three-point efficiency, with Plum in particular shooting over 50% from deep during this winning stretch. The team’s ball movement has been equally impressive, with Allemand’s triple-double serving as the latest example of how well this group is sharing the floor.
However, turnovers and inconsistent free-throw shooting remain areas of concern. Cleaning up those issues will be key as the Sparks prepare for the playoff push.
With their longest win streak since 2023, the Sparks are building momentum at the perfect time. They’ll look to extend that run when they host the Eastern Conference-leading New York Liberty on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. PT — a matchup that could serve as another benchmark for just how far this team has come in the past month.
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