Sparks Fall to Aces 105-78

The energy at the arena was electric for the Sparks matchup against the Las Vegas Aces, but despite some high-octane individual performances, Los Angeles couldn’t sustain the momentum needed to upend the defending champs. The Aces (1-1) walked away with a 105-78 victory, leaving the Sparks (0-1) looking for answers after a tough second-half slide.

Plum and Ogwumike Lead the Charge

Kelsey Plum was in a zone, reminding everyone why she’s one of the most lethal scorers in the game. She notched her 31st career game with 25+ points, finishing with 27 points on a efficient 10 for 18 shooting. When the Sparks needed a spark in the fourth, Plum took over, rattling off 12 straight points and hitting three consecutive triples to try and keep L.A. in the hunt.

It was also a massive night for Nneka Ogwumike, who looked right at home in her first game back as a Spark since 2023. Nneka put up a double-double with 19 points and 10 boards, shooting 3 for 5 from deep. She was the engine of the Sparks' 20-8 run to close the first half, bringing L.A. within just one point at the break.

Milestones and New Faces

The veteran presence of Dearica Hamby continues to be a cornerstone for this roster. With three defensive rebounds tonight, Hamby moved into 22nd on the WNBA's all-time defensive rebounds list, passing Hall of Famer Swin Cash.

We also saw some "firsts" for the new look Sparks:

Ariel Atkins scored her first basket in the purple and gold early in the first quarter off a Plum assist.
Chance Gray made her Sparks debut, checking in late in the opening frame.
Kate Martin has officially joined the Player Developmental Pool. Coach Lynne Roberts praised Martin’s leadership and high basketball IQ, noting that her work ethic fits right in with players like KP.

The Turning Point

While the first half was a back and forth battle, the third quarter proved to be the "pain point." The Aces "punched first" coming out of the locker room, and the Sparks struggled to find defensive chemistry.

Coach Roberts was candid about the performance, noting that turnovers (which led to 26 Aces points) and missed "bunnies" at the rim made it impossible to climb back. Plum echoed that sentiment postgame, calling the defensive effort "disappointing" and emphasizing that this squad is still forging its new identity.

"Expectations are high, but we’ve got to go one game at a time... This league is a gauntlet, so nobody in our locker room is naive to that, but we have humble confidence." — Coach Lynne Roberts

What’s Next?

The Sparks don't have long to dwell on this one. They’re back at Crypto.com Arena this Wednesday, May 13, to host the Indiana Fever. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m., and you can bet this squad will be looking to set a much higher defensive standard in front of the home crowd.