Writer : Melissa Ramus
Photographer: Rashad Griffin Sr.
The Sparks delivered a dominant performance in San Diego, defeating Nigeria 89-63 in a game that showcased depth, efficiency, and strong team chemistry from start to finish.
Leading the way was Kelsey Plum, who dropped a game-high 22 points in just 21 minutes, setting the tone early and keeping the offense flowing. From the opening tip, Los Angeles came out aggressive, hitting their first six shots and jumping out to a 12-0 run that put Nigeria on their heels. The Sparks closed the first quarter up 27-17 behind hot shooting and strong ball movement.
Nigeria showed resilience in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to four, but the Sparks quickly responded with a strong run to take a 44-29 lead into halftime. Plum led all scorers with 16 points in the first half, while Erica Wheeler controlled the tempo with seven assists and no turnovers.
In the second half, Los Angeles continued to apply pressure. Cameron Brink made her presence felt on both ends with 10 points, two blocks, and key defensive plays, while Ariel Atkins filled the stat sheet with eight points, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
The fourth quarter belonged to rookie Chance Gray, who caught fire with 11 of her 14 points, helping extend the lead and close out the game strong. Rookie Ta’Niya Latson also made an impact, dishing all six of her assists in the final quarter.
Nigeria was led by Pallas Kunaiyi with 11 points, while Favour Nwaedozi and Uche Izoje controlled the boards with five rebounds each. Despite their effort, the Sparks’ efficiency—shooting 49.2% from the field and 95.2% from the line—proved to be the difference.
This matchup marked the first-ever meeting between the Sparks and Nigeria, and also a historic moment as only the second WNBA game played in San Diego. With contributions across the roster and six players making their team debut, Los Angeles showed promising depth and cohesion early on.
