Sparks’ Mercury collapse explained

Los Angeles, CA (News4usOnline) – The Los Angeles Sparks had it. The momentum. The crowd. The game.

And then… they let it slip.

After jumping out to an early 18-point lead, the Sparks unraveled in the third quarter and never recovered, falling 85–80 to the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena.

In a game that screamed “winnable,” the Sparks instead whispered their way to another loss—undone by missed free throws, defensive lapses, and a third quarter that was nothing short of a disaster.

Coming off a 96–81 loss to the Las Vegas Aces on May 30, this was supposed to be a bounce-back game. A confidence builder. Instead, it raised more questions than answers.

They were outscored 24–9 in the third. That’s where the game was lost, I said during the postgame wrap. “This didn’t have to happen.”

Sparks Start Hot — But the Flame Flickered

Odyssey Sims came out like she had something to prove—and maybe she did. The veteran guard dropped 32 points, grabbed five rebounds, and dished off four assists, nearly willing her team to the finish line solo. She did it all in her 300th career WNBA game, climbing into the record books by tying Renee Montgomery for 27th all-time in career assists.

Sims also matched her season high in three-pointers (3), set a new season high in field goals made (10), and recorded her highest point total since her rookie season in 2014, when she scored 39.

“I just wanted to keep my foot on their necks,” Sims said. “But it’s not about me—it’s about being better as a team.”

Third Quarter Curse Strikes Again

L.A. controlled the first half, leading by double digits thanks to solid ball movement and hustle on the glass. But the third quarter came calling—and once again, it wasn’t kind.

The Sparks were outscored 24–9, watching their lead disappear as Phoenix knocked down timely threes and attacked the paint. Meanwhile, L.A. couldn’t buy a bucket—or a whistle.

Coach Lynne Roberts, who joked pregame about wanting a perfect third quarter “for once,” was visibly frustrated afterward.

“We just didn’t make shots,” she said. “We had great looks from people I trust to knock them down. But when they don’t fall, the pressure builds. That rim gets smaller and smaller.”

Cold Nights & Missed Moments

The Sparks shot just 36.6% from the field, and a frosty 22.9% from three (8-of-35). Even more painful? They missed 5 free throws, finishing 20-of-25. Phoenix? 21-of-24.

That’s the game right there. Those missed free throws? That’s five points off the board. We lost by five. You can’t let a team hang around and then try to match points. You need stops.

 Silver Linings & Season Highs

Despite the loss, there were some bright spots worth highlighting:

• Odyssey Sims: In her milestone night, she had her most points since 2014, tied her season high in threes, and set new highs in field goals and rebounds (5).
• Kelsey Plum: Also pulled down a season-high 6 rebounds, despite struggling from the field.
• Julie Allemand: In her first start of the season, dished out a season-high 6 assists and matched/set her season-high in rebounds with 5.
• Sarah Ashlee Barker: Posted a game-best +13, chipped in 6 points, and grabbed 2 steals.
• The game featured 13 lead changes and 7 ties—proof of how competitive it was despite the final score.

Fatigue, Frustration, and Finding Rhythm

The Sparks were playing their 7th game in 15 days, and it showed. Kelsey Plum—normally a walking bucket—was held to just 11 points on 3-of-10 shooting, visibly out of sync in the second half.

“I just missed,” Plum said. “I had great looks. They felt good coming out… they just didn’t go in.”

She also pointed out the challenge of developing chemistry on the fly:

“It’s not like we had a month of practice. It’s like, ‘Hey Julie, welcome back—now go start.’ That’s this league. We’re learning each other as we go.”

Coach’s Vision — And the Reality Check

Coach Roberts stayed composed but didn’t sugarcoat it.

“That first half is how we want to play,” she said. “But you can’t afford a cold night when you have a lead like that. It’s a bad day to have a bad day.”

Still, she emphasized faith in her team’s growth:

“This is a competitive group. I believe in them fully. But we’ve got to stop talking about these third quarters and start doing something about it.”

Final Word: One Team, One Goal—But Is the Belief Mutual?

If this team wants to win, it has to start from the top—and run all the way through the bench. Complete, consistent contribution is the only way forward. At this point, you can’t rely on just one player. It’s not about one. It’s about all. One team. One goal: win.

Coach Roberts says she has faith in this group of ladies—but I can’t help but wonder if that belief is mutual. It’s been seven games, and when you really look back, several of them were winnable. Games that slipped because the effort wasn’t unified or the trust wasn’t shared.

Winning in this league isn’t just about talent. It’s about trust, chemistry, and accountability. And until the Sparks commit to that on every level—from leadership to last off the bench—they’ll keep finding themselves on the wrong side of games they should’ve had in the bag.

What’s Next?

The Sparks fall to 2–6 and will need to regroup quickly with Dallas up next. The season is still young, but these close losses are starting to pile up—and in a league as competitive as the W, slipping in June could cost you in August.

The third quarter curse is real. The question now is: Can the Sparks break it before it breaks their season?