(East Los Angeles, CA) July 7, 2022 [From The Editor’s Desk]: This was a huge game for the Sparks as they returned home for their first “back-to-back” set of home games of the season. They were programmed to coincide nicely with our annual 4th of July Independence Day Holiday weekend. Not to mention the fact that they were at the start of building a badly needed win streak.

For the Celebrity/VIP attendees, the crowd was informed that the “Look Who’s Here“ person was —Eric Bellinger, the popular American Singer, Songwriter, and Producer from Los Angeles, CA.

(Game Summary)

(1st Qtr): Good shooting from both teams was displayed in a fairly even back & forth rhythm. Kristi Toliver and Lexie Brown were accurate for the Sparks, while Marine Johannas, Natasha Howard, Michaela Onyenwere, and Stefanie Dolson all got credit with scoring. Then with (1:45) left, #9/Rebecca Allen suddenly went down on the court and had to be assisted to the bench. She was then removed to the locker room for medical attention by their Team Doctor. Score at the end of one, Sparks (25) Liberty (21).

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[Photo Gallery]: Rico Cabrera, Sr., East L.A. Sports Scene Productions, LLC & EastLASportsScene.Com

(2nd Qtr): Rhythms and flow were still good and both teams traded baskets and free throws evenly. Score was (34-29), It was Sparks with (5:31) left, but that soon changed to (38-37) in favor of the Liberty after a 3-pointer was recored at the (3:45) mark. N. Howard then splashed in another 3-pointer for a Liberty (41-37) lead. The clock ran down and ended the first half with a score of (43-40) in favor of the visitors.

[HALFTIME SCORE]:  Liberty  43  Sparks  40

(3rd Qtr): Sparks came out on fire and re-took a small lead when they were up by 4 points as they coasted into the 4:00 minute mark with the scoreboard showing (55-52) in their favor. The Sparks went on a brief run thanks to a N. Ogwumike  jumper and then stretched into 4 after a Lexie Brown triple. A time-out was then called by the liberty at (6:42). The Sparks then caught fire with a basket by Katie Lou Samuelson and the Ogwumike sisters putting up consecutive scores themselves. The key to winning this 3rd quarter was the stellar defensive effort put in by the Sparks as they limited the Liberty to just 14 points, while they scored 25.

(4th Qtr): The score was (65-60) Sparks with (7:03) left in the game. The lead grew to (77-70) with (2:45) remaining as Liz Cambage took over the game on the inside and from the short-range perimeter. She added another basket and moved the margin up to (79-70). A time-out was quickly called by New York to break the Sparks‘ rhythm. When play resumed, and with (2:15) reading on the clock,  shooting guard, Sabrina Ionesco hit a big  3-pointer, cutting the lead to (79-73). Then Coach Williams called a strategic time-out with just (0:57.8) seconds left. After the rest period, Cambage attacked again and resulted in an “And 1” play moving the score to an (82-73) lead with only (0:35.3) left. The Liberty called their last time-out but produced nothing in return. N. Ogwumike was fouled on her drive and made both for an (84-73) lead with (0:27.5) left. The Liberty scored heir final point when Center, Han Xu, converted one of two free throws after drawing a contact foul with only (:04.4) seconds to go.

(OF SIGNIFICANCE): Once again the Sparks had five players scoring in double-figures. They were led by their Capt. N. Ogwumike with (22), Liz Cambage with (16), Katie Lou Samuelson and Cheney Ogwumike with (12) each and Jordin Canada who added (11).

(FINAL SCORE): L.A. Sparks  84  New York Liberty  74

(ATTENDANCE): 5,436