The Los Angeles Sparks took a tough 101–78 loss to the Minnesota Lynx Friday night in a Commissioner’s Cup matchup that got away early. Despite a slow start, the Sparks showed grit in the second half, led by strong performances from Rickea Jackson, Kelsey Plum, and a big spark off the bench from veteran Emma Cannon.

First Half

Things got off to a rough start for L.A. after Rickea Jackson knocked down the opening three, as Minnesota responded with a 15-0 run that gave them early momentum. The Sparks struggled to find rhythm offensively, putting up just 15 points in the first quarter and 11 in the second.

Still, there were some bright spots Dearica Hamby brought the energy with a coast to coast layup, and Emma Cannon got going with her first bucket off a setup from Shey Peddy, who made her debut as a Spark. Rickea Jackson led the team with 8 points at the break and continued to look more confident each game.

Second Half Spark

The Sparks came out of halftime looking like a different team. Kelsey Plum caught fire from deep, hitting three triples and pushing the tempo offensively. Rickea Jackson stayed aggressive, drilling another three and drawing a charge from Napheesa Collier showing her growth on both ends.

L.A. shot a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc in the third and made a short run late in the quarter to chip away at the deficit.

Emma Cannon Shines

One of the brightest spots of the night was Emma Cannon, who dropped a season high 14 points on an efficient 5-of-7 from the field and 2-of-3 from three. She scored a team-high 8 points in the fourth quarter alone and brought the toughness and leadership the Sparks needed.

Coach Lynne Roberts praised Cannon postgame, saying, “She’s a seasoned vet that understands what we needed. We needed some toughness… and she can shoot the three. She hit a couple big ones.”

Rickea Continues to Rise

Rickea Jackson finished with 18 points (6-for-12 FG, 3-for-5 3PT) and added 5 rebounds and a steal in a team high 36 minutes. She’s continuing to find her rhythm offensively while answering the challenge defensively. Coach Roberts made it clear: “She definitely is getting in the groove… and that makes us a lot better.”

Rickea knows there's still work to do, though. “We can't come out flat. The second half that’s our basketball,” she said. “We were intentional, moving the ball, playing good defense. We're trending in the right direction.”

Final Numbers & Takeaways

The Sparks shot a season-best 53.3% from three (8-for-15)
LA hit a season-high 28 free throws, making 22 (78.6%)
Dearica Hamby notched her fourth double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds
The team matched their season high with 12 offensive boards

Even in the loss, the Sparks raised $1,000 for Social Justice Partners LA, pushing their Commissioner’s Cup total to $9,000.

What’s Next

The Sparks return home to face the Seattle Storm on Tuesday, June 17 at Crypto.com Arena. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. PT.

Sparks Show Fight Late, But Fall to Lynx in Road Loss