Execution costs Sparks against Liberty

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Sparks showed they have the offensive firepower to compete with one of the WNBA’s best teams Tuesday night. What they couldn’t do was finish.

Despite shooting an impressive 60.3 percent from the field and recording 35 assists, the Sparks fell to the New York Liberty 113-109 in a game that once again highlighted the thin line between competing and closing out a victory.

Los Angeles placed six players in double figures and consistently generated quality looks throughout the night. It was one of the team’s most efficient offensive performances of the season, but 15 turnovers and a handful of costly possessions late allowed the defending WNBA champions to escape with the win.

The Sparks controlled stretches of the game with crisp ball movement and unselfish play. Their 35 assists reflected an offense that trusted one another and consistently found the open player.

Rae Burrell led the Sparks with 24 points, finishing 10-of-17 from the field while knocking down four three-pointers. She also added four steals and three assists in one of her strongest all-around performances of the season.

The balanced scoring continued throughout the lineup. Nneka Ogwumike finished with 21 points and nine assists, Erica Wheeler added 17 points, Ariel Atkins scored 16, Dearica Hamby contributed 12 points, and Cameron Brink finished with 11.

Still, New York answered every run.

Breanna Stewart led the Liberty with 29 points, while Sabrina Ionescu added 27 as New York made the winning plays down the stretch. The Liberty’s depth also proved to be a difference maker, with its bench outscoring the Sparks’ reserves 41-19.

For Los Angeles, the loss continued a familiar theme.

The offense has shown steady improvement, the chemistry continues to develop, and the Sparks are proving they can score with some of the league’s top teams. What continues to separate them from turning competitive performances into victories is execution during the game’s biggest moments.

Whether it’s limiting turnovers, getting a critical defensive stop or capitalizing on late possessions, those small details have consistently determined the outcome of close games this season. Before tipoff, however, the focus shifted from the present to the franchise’s championship past.

About 30 minutes before tipoff, during her pregame media availability, Sparks legend DeLisha Milton-Jones reflected on the mindset that helped define her Hall of Fame career.

Away from basketball, she described herself as “Sunshine.” Between the lines, she became “D-Nasty,” the fierce competitor she created to survive in the WNBA.

“D-Nasty loves defense,” Milton-Jones said. “Everything starts on the defensive end.”

She credited Sparks great Michael Cooper with instilling a philosophy that became the foundation of her career.

“Defense wins championships,” she said.

The Sparks later honored Milton-Jones by retiring her jersey, celebrating a career that helped define one of the organization’s championship eras. During the ceremony, she reflected on the people who shaped her journey and joked that without D-Nasty, she may not have survived her first week in the WNBA, drawing laughter from the crowd while reminding everyone of the competitive edge required to succeed at the highest level.

By the final buzzer, her message carried even greater meaning.

The Sparks delivered one of their best offensive performances of the season, but they couldn’t pair it with the defensive stops needed to defeat the defending WNBA champions.

The offense is no longer the question.

The talent is there.

Now comes the next step.

Milton-Jones’ championship teams built their identity on defense, and Tuesday night’s game served as a reminder that offense alone isn’t enough to finish games against the league’s elite. If the current Sparks can match their offensive efficiency with the defensive mindset that defined the franchise’s championship years, close losses like Tuesday’s could eventually become wins.