CHICAGO — Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike moved past a pair of WNBA legends on Friday night, but it wasn’t enough for the Sparks to avoid defeat in a 96-82 loss to the Chicago Sky.
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Ogwumike surpassed Sparks legend Lisa Leslie as the franchise’s all-time leader in points (now sitting at 6,281). Ogwumike finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds, also moving past Candace Parker and into third place on the WNBA’s career rebounds list with 3,472.
Sydney Taylor hit four 3-pointers and scored 19 points to pace Chicago (9-16), as the undrafted rookie star scored in double figures for the sixth game in a row and the 12th time in the past 13. Kamilla Cardoso had 13 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots, while Natasha Cloud had 15 points and nine assists. Jacy Sheldon added 14 points off the bench and former Spark Azura Stevens finished with 12 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals.
Dearica Hamby also had 18 points for the Sparks (10-14), who have lost the first three games of their four-game road trip and five straight on the road overall. Erica Wheeler added 14 points.
Ogwumike had scored 23 points Wednesday night in a 96-87 loss at Minnesota to tie the mark of 6,263 points set by Lisa Leslie, then hit a short jumper about three minutes into Friday’s game to break the tie.
Picked No. 1 overall by the Sparks in 2012, Ogwumike returned to the team this season after spending the past two with Seattle. The 36-year-old forward has 7,703 career points.
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The Sparks led 17-16 after one quarter, but Taylor hit a pair of 3-pointers to fuel a 14-2 run that allowed the Sky to surge in front 30-19. Taylor also scored on a jumper in the lane before Cordoso capped the spurt on a layup with 7:01 to play.
Wheeler got the Sparks within 44-34 with 1:07 left in the first half, but Gabriela Jaquez answered with a 3-pointer of her own and Chicago went on to lead 49-36 at halftime.
The Sky outscored the Sparks 33-19 in the second quarter, capitalizing on 12 turnovers and a 23-0 advantage in bench points.
The Sparks cut their deficit to 65-59 with 1:24 to play in the third quarter after two free throws from Ariel Atkins, but the Sky held a 69-63 advantage after three and opened the fourth on a 9-0 run.
The Sparks beat the Sky, 102-77, last Friday night at Crypto.com Arena.
INJURY UPDATES
Kelsey Plum (leg injury) remained out for the Sparks. … Chicago’s Skylar Diggins (knee) missed her fifth consecutive game.
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UP NEXT
The Sparks close their four-game trip at Dallas on Sunday at 10 a.m. PT.