The Sparks earned a 92-88 victory over the Sun Sunday, fueled by 46.7% shooting from the field and a season-best 35 made field goals. Los Angeles also grabbed a season-high 15 offensive rebounds and had four players score 15 or more points for the third time this season, improving to 2-1 in such games. 

Forward-center Azurá Stevens posted her seventh double-double of the season with 21 points (7-for-17 FG, 5-for-8 3PT) and 11 rebounds, matching her career high with seven offensive boards.

Guard Kelsey Plum led all Sparks scorers with 23 points (8-for-14 FG, 3-for-7 3PT, 4-for-4 FT), adding three assists and two steals. The All-Star’s first-quarter triple was the 537th of her career, moving her into sole possession of 15th on the WNBA’s all-time three-pointers made list. 

In her 50th career start, forward Rickea Jackson contributed 19 points, six rebounds, four assists and a season-high two blocks. Dearica Hamby added 17 points (7-for-13 FG), four assists and seven rebounds, surpassing Chamique Holdsclaw for 28th on the league’s all-time rebounding list.

Julie Allemand tallied five points, four rebounds, six assists and two steals, finishing with a game-high +13. Rae Burrell notched a season-high seven points off the bench on a perfect 3-for-3 shooting, along with two boards and her first assist of the year.

L.A. snapped a 13-game losing streak to the Sun, earning its first win over Connecticut since Aug. 28, 2020. 

QUOTES OF THE DAY:

Head Coach Lynne Roberts

On Rae Burrell working her way back into the lineup:

“She brings energy. In our locker room, she brings energy when she’s there and I think that matters. You can see that on the floor too, she’s just the energizer bunny… But Rae [Burrell] puts pressure on the defense, puts pressure on the rim. She’s so athletic, and I feel like she’s getting into a groove, and I’m figuring out a rotation with having these guys back. She’s long and so athletic and so aggressive, I think you’re seeing why she’s so valuable to us.”

Azurá Stevens

On being referred to as ‘underrated’ by her team and receiving recognition:

“I am so appreciative of my teammates and Coach Lynne [Roberts]. From Day One, they've just come in and just believed in me and I think we can see that on the court. They're always finding me in really good spots, so it makes my job easy just to knock in shots and cut and try to find ways to score that way. But, I don't play for [recognition]. I play for the team. I play for the Sparks. I play for my family, myself, just to go out and put on a good show and be consistent. That's been one of my goals coming into this year, is to be consistent. So, respectfully, I don't care what the media thinks. I'm just trying to do my job and play hard for these guys and for other people.”

Kelsey Plum 

On emphasizing player movement and ball movement for this game:

“I was just trying to be patient, pick my spots, and I think we’ve gotten better at our spacing. I’m someone that thrives in space. And so just trying to be patient early, give it up, and then, knowing that throughout the game people were hitting shots, and then the lane starts to open up and I’m able to make a wiggle. So [I] was just trying to be patient and trust that it’s going to come, and then just try to be like an assassin and strike.”

What’s Next?: 

The Sparks conclude their three-game homestand and the first half of their season against the Washington Mystics (July 15 at 7 p.m. PT). Following the WNBA All-Star break, the team heads to the East Coast for a three-game road trip: Washington Mystics (July 22 at 4:30 p.m. PT), Connecticut Sun (July 24 at 4 p.m. PT) and New York Liberty (July 26 at 4 p.m. PT).