Game 1 of the WNBA semifinal series between the Chicago Sky and the Los Angeles Sparks took place at the campus of Long Beach State University. Regardless of venue, the Sparks proved why they were winners of 26 games during the regular season when LA topped Chicago by a final of 95-75.
The Sky were shorthanded as Elena Delle Donne was unavailable due to her thumb injury.
The Sparks got plenty of production from newly crowned WNBA MVP Nneka Ogwumike as well as from Candace Parker. Both shot over 70 percent from the field. Parker finished with 30 points and Ogwumike had 27.
Jantel Lavender also contributed 12 off the bench and Kristi Toliver scored 10 including three three-pointers.
For the Sky, Jamierra Faulkner had 13 points and made six of her 11 shots from the field. Cappie Pondexter added 12. Tamera Young concluded with 11, and Courtney Vandersloot had 10.
Similar to the semifinal matchup between the Mercury and Lynx, it was competitive for one period, then the eventual winners went off on a major offensive outburst in the second. What was only a two point (22-20) advantage for the Sparks after one quarter became a 17-point lead (52-35) at halftime.
Chicago only attempted two three-point shots for the entire game. The Sparks as a team made six of their 18 from behind the arc.
The scheduling conflict that had the Sparks at Long Beach State University instead of the Staples Center—a Los Angeles Kings NHL hockey game.
By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)
