Sparks' Guard Scores Season-High in Loss to Mercury

Sims entered Sunday ranked seventh in the league in assist to turnover ratio (3.12).

Los Angeles' unique three-guard starting core of Sims, Kelsey Plum and Julie Allemand helped the 5-foot-8 guard maintain the statistic. The trio combined for 11 first-half assists, four of which came from Sims.

Allemand, making her first career start for the purple and gold, finished with six assists and five rebounds in 35 minutes.

Allemand returned to the United States after being traded to Los Angeles from Chicago, along with Li Yueru and a 2025 third-round draft pick.

After missing the Sparks' first two games of 2025 due to injury, she's impressed as a key facilitator in limited time through LA's last six contests, Sunday included.

Sims propelled Los Angeles to a early 27-17 lead after the first quarter, fueled by a myriad of scoring success.

The Sparks’ guard poured in 14 points on 3-for-4 shooting from beyond the arc in just the first frame alone.

Sims' effort matched teammate Azura Stevens' 14-point first period total against Minnesota on May 18 — both of which sit atop the record books as the most points by a player in a WNBA first quarter thus far this season.

Sims capped the first half with 17 points on an efficient 6-for-10 shooting clip in just 18 minutes. The first-half scoring total marked a season-high, surpassing her 15-point barrage in 36 minutes against the Las Vegas Aces on Friday night.

The 5-foot-8 guard, now in her 12th WNBA season, finished with 32 points, five rebounds and four assists on 10-for-14 shooting in Sunday's defeat.

It marked her first 30-plus point game since 2019 and tied Renee Montgomery for 27th all-time in WNBA assists, per a team release.

Plum and Dearica Hamby complimented Sims' performance with 15 points apiece, respectively.

Phoenix led a dominant start to the second half, taking a timely two-point lead entering the fourth quarter. The Mercury outscored the Sparks, 24-9, in the third quarter alone.

A 23-point, nine-rebound and four-steal barrage from Phoenix's Satou Sabally proved too much to overcome late, marking a third straight Los Angeles loss.

The Sparks fall to 2-6 in 2025, with another chance to get back in the win column next Friday versus the Dallas Wings.