By Tiffany Williams
August 7, 2025 | Los Angeles, CA
The Connecticut Sun were unable to hold off the surging Los Angeles Sparks in a high-scoring contest Thursday night, falling 102-91 at Crypto.com Arena. The loss marked Connecticut’s third and final defeat to the Sparks this season and extended their losing streak to five games. With the win, Los Angeles improved to 14-15 on the year and have now won eight of their last nine games. The Sun fell to 5-24 overall.
Despite the loss, Connecticut showed flashes of offensive cohesion and resilience, highlighted by balanced scoring from Marina Mabrey and Tina Charles, who each finished with 19 points and seven rebounds. Bria Hartley added 16 points and three assists off the bench, shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc. Rookie guard Leila Lacan also delivered a well-rounded performance, scoring 10 points while dishing out a career-high seven assists and recording three steals.
The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets early. The Sparks held a slight advantage until a three-pointer by Hartley gave the Sun their first lead of the night at 13-12. The lead changed hands multiple times in the opening period, but the Sun edged ahead at the buzzer when Saniya Rivers drained a three-pointer off a Lacan assist to end the quarter with a 29-27 advantage.
Connecticut carried that momentum into the second quarter, opening with a 9-1 run to push their lead to double digits. Charles and Rivers combined for key baskets, with Rivers also sparking the defense with a timely steal that led to a Mabrey layup. The Sun built their largest lead of the game at 45-33 with just over four minutes left in the half. However, the Sparks responded with an 8-0 run to erase the deficit and briefly regain the lead. A late three-pointer by Hartley sent Connecticut into the locker room with a 51-49 lead, marking their highest first-half point total of the season.
The Sun continued their aggressive play to start the second half, opening with another 8-0 run to go up 59-51. Yet, the Sparks quickly countered, going on a 9-0 run of their own to reclaim the lead. Olivia Nelson-Ododa broke the Sun’s scoring drought with a layup and contributed on the defensive end with a block that led to a fast-break bucket by Hartley. Still, defensive lapses allowed Los Angeles to regain control with a series of unanswered baskets, taking a 74-69 lead into the fourth quarter.
Mabrey and Lacan helped the Sun open the final period with five quick points to tie the game at 74, but Los Angeles continued their offensive efficiency and regained a five-point cushion. The Sparks used a 6-2 spurt to extend their lead to 84-78 before Charles got to the line and cut the deficit back to six. Mabrey kept the Sun within striking distance with back-to-back three-pointers, but Los Angeles had a response each time. A late run by the Sparks, capped by a 7-2 scoring stretch, pushed the game out of reach. The Sun called two timeouts in the final three minutes to regroup, but couldn’t close the gap.
The Sun shot 41.2 percent from the field on 33-of-80 shooting, and were efficient from deep, hitting 44.8 percent of their three-point attempts (13-of-29). However, they struggled to match Los Angeles’ offensive execution, as the Sparks connected on 56.5 percent of their shots (35-of-62). Connecticut did outperform the Sparks in second-chance points (25-15) and fast break scoring (11-4), but ultimately couldn’t stop Los Angeles’ well-distributed attack.
All five Sparks starters scored in double figures, led by Dearica Hamby’s 21 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Rickea Jackson added 20 points on 50 percent shooting. Kelsey Plum chipped in 18 points and five assists, while Azura Stevens and Julie Allemand each scored 10. Allemand recorded the first triple-double of her WNBA career, finishing with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. Cameron Brink contributed 11 points and two blocks off the bench, adding depth to a Sparks team that looks to be hitting its stride at a critical point in the season.
With the loss, Connecticut remains at the bottom of the WNBA standings and will need to regroup quickly as the season enters its final stretch. Despite their record, the Sun’s offensive showing — including season highs and individual milestones — suggests there’s still fight left in the squad.