Los Angeles Sparks Snap Skid, Top Dallas Wings 93-79

Kaila Charles (No. 3) and Luisa Geiselsöder (No. 18) of the Dallas Wings gave it their all in a tough game against the Los Angeles Sparks at College Park Center. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Los Angeles Sparks leaned on balanced scoring, clutch defense and sharp perimeter shooting to defeat the Dallas Wings, 93-79, on Friday night at College Park Center, extending Dallas’ struggles despite another promising effort from its emerging bench.

Azurá Stevens led the Sparks (3-6) with 21 points, connecting on five of eight three-point attempts and adding six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Dearica Hamby added 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting, while Odyssey Sims chipped in 19 points, including a momentum-seizing three-pointer late in the third quarter that helped Los Angeles pull away.

Los Angeles shot 55.6 percent from the field, including 9-of-24 from three-point range, and limited Dallas to just 30 percent from deep. While both teams notched 24 assists, the Sparks committed only 14 turnovers to Dallas’ 15 and converted key Wings miscues into points in transition.

For the Wings (1-8), DiJonai Carrington once again provided a spark, scoring a team-high 16 points while going 5-of-5 from the free-throw line. Off the bench, JJ Quinerly tallied 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting, while Luisa Geiselsöder delivered a double-digit rebounding performance with 10 boards to go along with 11 points.

Despite the individual bright spots, the Wings fell behind early, trailing 27-20 after one quarter. Though they trimmed the deficit to 46-43 at halftime, the third quarter proved decisive. Los Angeles outscored Dallas 25-17 in the frame, keyed by Sims’ triple with 1:33 remaining to push the Sparks’ lead to nine.

“We have to have a better start. We got to be locked in from the beginning because that gives confidence to teams when they get easy buckets,” guard Kaila Charles said. “But I think overall, it’s just a lot of stuff that we can control, we can fix and it’s just the detail.

“So we’re going to watch film and get ready for a tough game on Sunday with Minnesota. We competed with them the whole way, so I feel like we can just lock in and do our job.”

Los Angeles opened the fourth quarter with a 7-2 run, extending their lead to double digits. Kelsey Plum, who finished with 11 points and a game-high nine assists, found Stevens in the corner for another dagger three to make it 84-71 with just under five minutes to go.

From there, the Sparks maintained control, even as the Wings showed signs of life with late baskets from Charles and Quinerly. But Los Angeles’ discipline and shot-making sealed the outcome.

Geiselsöder acknowledged the pattern of second-half breakdowns that have plagued Dallas during the season.

Dallas Wings center Luisa Geiselsöder and guard Kaila Charles played a majority of the Friday night matchup against the Los Angeles Sparks. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)

“I agree on that. I have the feeling like especially second half hurt us,” she said. “It’s been multiple games. That second half was not great. And I think they really are just scoring off of our mistakes. If we don’t do as many mistakes as we did, I think we’re there and we compete with these teams. So I think it’s really in our control.”

Dallas head coach Chris Koclanes echoed his players’ concerns about execution and accountability.

“Just trying to figure it out and it just seems like we can’t get everybody on the same page,” Koclanes said. “I’m not going to make excuses. I won’t chalk it up to it hurts when you don’t have a Paige [Bueckers] and Ty Harris, who are people that really bring organization on the offensive end. It challenges you in different ways. And Myisha [Hines-Allen] has struggled here the last couple days, haven’t been able to help her find a groove.

“So that hasn’t helped either as somebody who can facilitate from the post position. So now you’re asking Nai [Carrington] to play point guard. And she was great the last two games. Tonight, she struggled. So yeah, just gotta stick with it. And so it starts with me and it starts with our staff. And I’m not going to make excuses, and I’m going to continue to show up for them and continue to serve them and put them in positions. And we’ll continue to fight and believe and we will turn the tide.”

Still, there was a sense of personal and collective determination from the Wings’ locker room, particularly from Geiselsöder, who has emerged as a reliable contributor in recent games.

“It means a lot. I’m happy that I can help the team,” she said. “It would definitely be better if we would get out with a win. The numbers don’t say anything if you don’t win the game. So, I’m definitely happy. I’m happy that I can show that I can compete in this league, but the goal is to win games, and right now, we’re not winning games.”

Next Stop

The Wings will look to regroup and end their four-game skid when they host the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. CT. Some good news may be in Dallas’ corner with Paige Bueckers upgraded from Out to Probable for the Wings’ latest game status report.

Los Angeles Sparks: By the Numbers

Kelsey Plum (No. 10) of the Los Angeles Sparks silences the College Park Center faithful. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)

Dallas Wings: By the Numbers

Luisa Geiselsöder and her Dallas Wings teammates huddle during their game against the Los Angeles Sparks. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)