Sparks Edge Wings in Nail-Biter: Jackson Ignites, Allemand Orchestrates, Plum Delivers the Dagger

Felicia Enriquez, aka Mynt J, is the host of the podcast BlackLove and Basketball – Compton Edition. She is a Clippers fan, an NBA credentialed creator representing thePeachBasket. In this article, Sparks Edge Wings in Nail-Biter: Jackson Ignites, Allemand Orchestrates, Plum Delivers the Dagger, she breaks down Buecker’s great game and Plum’s hame winner!

In front of a buzzing crowd of 13,598, the Los Angeles Sparks pulled off an 81–80 thriller over the Dallas Wings — a game that felt like survival basketball for Dallas and ended with heartbreak despite Paige Bueckers’ legendary 44-point showcase. The Sparks had their own heroes: Rickea Jackson’s early firepower, Julie “JuJu” Allemand’s court vision, and Kelsey Plum’s fearless game-winner.

Sparks Edge Wings: A Rough Opening Act

The Sparks opened the night ice-cold. Fans, in their usual tradition of standing until the first basket, were left on their feet for nearly six minutes as shot after shot rimmed out. Turnovers piled up, Dallas pounced, and the frustration reached the bench — Coach Lynne Roberts even drew a technical foul during the drought. What felt like a nightmare start slowly morphed into the kind of story that makes the final buzzer unforgettable.

Jackson Strikes First

Once the lid finally came off the rim, it was Ri ckea Jackson who lit the match. She poured in 11 first-quarter points, drilling all three of her attempts from deep. Jackson’s poise calmed the Sparks and gave them an anchor after the shaky start.

Her words afterward mirrored her approach:

“The first five minutes were crazy, but once we started moving the ball and trusting each other, everything clicked. It was about sticking together.”

Allemand, the Steady Hand

Before tipoff, I caught Julie “JuJu” Allemand reflecting on her role as the Sparks’ engine and her recent triple-double. She admitted it took every ounce of energy but showed why her teammates lean on her to dictate tempo.

“I don’t have to be the scorer every night,” Allemand said, “but I always have to be the connector. Especially in a game like this, after that loss in D.C., we knew we couldn’t let another one slip.”

She delivered again, finishing with eight assists and orchestrating the Sparks’ half-court sets. One of her biggest plays — a third-quarter dime to Azurá Stevens for a momentum-shifting three — underlined how valuable her fingerprints are on this team.

Plum’s Resilience Pays Off

Kelsey Plum’s night looked like one she might want to forget — until the final possession. She struggled to find rhythm, endured a cold third quarter, and misfired from deep in the fourth.

Through the first half, she shot 4-for-9 from the field and just 1-for-4 from three. Things worsened in the third, where she managed only a single point — a free throw — and went 0-for-3 from the floor. By the fourth, Plum could have easily folded; she went 5-for-12 in the final quarter but missed all three of her attempts from long range.

It was the type of night that tests a player’s confidence. But when the three-ball failed, when the midrange didn’t fall, Plum went back to the basics — attacking downhill, trusting her instincts, and leaning on the most fundamental shot in basketball: the floater.

With seconds left, she put it off the glass for her 20th point — the game-winner that erased all the frustration. That floater off the glass reminds us what the WNBA is about: fundamentals.

Bueckers, Brilliant but Beaten

For the Wings, Paige Bueckers authored a masterpiece — 44 points on 17-of-21 shooting in just 36 minutes. She scored at will, dragged Dallas into striking distance, and nearly stole the game herself. But even greatness can be undone by a single shot.

Roberts on Balance

Coach Lynne Roberts praised her team’s resilience and reminded everyone why staying even-keeled matters:

“No lead is safe in this league. Paige was unbelievable tonight, but it’s my job to stay steady so my players can, too.”

Looking Ahead

The Sparks now enter a five-day break before hosting the Phoenix Mercury on Aug. 26, then welcoming the Fever (Aug. 29) and Mystics (Aug. 31). With only nine games left, every possession, every adjustment, and every moment will carry playoff weight.

Roberts isn’t looking ahead, though:

“I don’t even know who we play next. My focus is only on the team in front of us.”

For now, the Sparks can savor a win that was equal parts ugly, electric, and unforgettable.