Los Angeles Sparks Stumble in Second Standoff Against Valkyries

Felicia Enriquez, aka Mynt J, is the host of the podcast BlackLove and Basketball – Compton Edition. She is an NBA credentialed creator representing thePeachBasket. In this article, Los Angeles Sparks Stumble in Second Standoff Against Valkyries, she recaps the Los Angeles Sparks loss against the Valkyries!

The Los Angeles Sparks returned to Crypto.com Arena with a score to settle. After a tight loss to Phoenix, the Sparks were expected to bounce back against the Golden State Valkyries—a new franchise still finding its footing. But instead of redemption, what unfolded was a frustrating 82-73 loss that exposed old wounds and raised new concerns.

Early Aggression, Short-Lived Momentum

Dearica Hamby came out with purpose, hitting early buckets and giving the home crowd something to cheer for. The Sparks led after the first quarter, 26–24, but that would be the high point. The Valkyries stormed ahead in the second, outscoring the Sparks 25–9 in a frame that left Head Coach Lynne Roberts visibly frustrated.

“We got caught trying to do too much one on one. Yeah, it’s bad. We gotta fix it,” Roberts said postgame. “We haven’t done it yet this season.”

Los Angeles Sparks Stumble: No Help, No Flow

As the Valkyries keyed in on Kelsey Plum—trapping her multiple times—no one stepped up to relieve the pressure. Plum, who made her first three shots, quickly went cold. She finished with 16 points on 6-of-18 shooting and just 2-of-10 from three. The Sparks offense stalled while Golden State attacked in transition and punished missed assignments. Azurá Stevens and Hamby tried to keep the Sparks afloat, but they couldn’t reverse the momentum alone.

Mental Lapses and Missed Opportunities

The Sparks had 18 total turnovers and allowed 22 points off those mistakes. They often relied on drawing fouls in the paint but only converted 16-of-22 free throws (72.7%). That lack of efficiency at the line made every miscue feel heavier.

Despite being down three players, Roberts stressed the importance of putting together a full 40 minutes—mentally and physically.

“We missed some shots we were expecting to make, and that just affected our defense,” she said. “Like we weren’t running, we weren’t moving it.”

Bright Spots and Season Highs

Dearica Hamby delivered her best performance of the season, setting a season high with 25 points—just four shy of her career high—and matching her career high in blocks with three. She also recorded a season-high nine made field goals, and notched her first block of the season in the first quarter.

Odyssey Sims scored a season-high 13 points, going 4-for-13 from the field and 3-for-6 from beyond the arc.

Sarah Ashlee Barker continued her growth, recording the first offensive rebound of her WNBA career. She set career highs in rebounds (4), steals (2), points (7), and made field goals (2-for-7). She also led the Sparks with four assists.

Azurá Stevens and Julie Allemand each set season highs in assists with three and two, respectively. Stevens also surpassed the 200-assist mark for her career.

Hamby and Odyssey Showed Life, But It Wasn’t Enough

Dearica Hamby finished with 25 points and 6 rebounds, fighting to the final whistle. Azurá Stevens grabbed 10 rebounds, matching Golden State’s Kayla Thornton on the glass. Odyssey Sims chipped in 13 points. Sarah Ashlee Barker dished out 4 assists to lead the team in that category.

Barker, showing mental growth, said:

“Just [have a] next-play mentality,” she explained. “We play Chicago in 36 hours, so you gotta move on to the next and be ready for the next moment.”

Fourth Quarter Fight—Too Little, Too Late

The Sparks outscored the Valkyries 20–14 in the final period, but the hole they dug was too deep. A couple of late buckets gave the illusion of a comeback, but defensive breakdowns and missed free throws sealed their fate.

The Verdict

The Valkyries might be new to the league, but they weren’t about to let Kelsey Plum or the Sparks embarrass them twice. Golden State came in with a chip on their shoulder—and L.A. came in without a plan B.

The Sparks shot just 38.7% from the field and 34.6% from three-point range. Their execution down the stretch—missed layups, sloppy passes, and defensive lapses—continues to hurt them in winnable games.

But here’s the thing: it’s only four games in. And belief still lives in that locker room.

Coach Roberts believes in this team—and so do I. In a one-on-one after practice, Coach Roberts broke it down with calm humble confidence:

“Basketball is a game of chances,” she said. “We want to take better shots than our opponent—meaning we’re getting more chances by not turning the ball over, rebounding really well, and being intentional with our shots. If we do that, we should do well.”

While she takes it game by game, her eyes are on the bigger picture. This isn’t a rebuild—it’s about maximizing opportunity and making every possession count.

This loss hurts because the potential is real. Because they know what they’re capable of.

You take it one game at a time. You play the game right, and it will come together. Every team hits turbulence. It’s what you do in response that defines you.

The Sparks are now 1-3 and staring at a rough stretch ahead. But if this team wants to make real noise, the accountability can’t just come in postgame quotes—it has to show up in defensive stops, smarter decisions, and leaders stepping up just a little bit more in the absence of their teammates.

Next up: The Sparks host the Chicago Sky. Time to turn potential into production—and keep building, one game at a time.