Washington Mystics at Los Angeles Sparks
· Women's National Basketball AssociationHamby scores 20, Plum has 14 of 18 in 4th quarter to help Sparks beat Mystics 81-78
Rickea Jackson had 16 for the Sparks (18-20), who started the day 2 1/2 games behind Golden State for the last playoff spot. Hamby and Azura Stevens both had 12 rebounds.
Kiki Irafen led the Mystics (16-25) with 22 points and 13 rebounds, the 15th double-double for the rookie. Sonia Citro added 12 points, Shakira Austin had 11 and Stefanie Dolson 10.
The Mystics, coming off a 37-point loss the night before that officially eliminated them from the playoffs, got off to a miserable start but pulled to 65-63 on Jade Melbourne's basket with 4:22 remaining. Plum then scored eight-straight L.A. points on two 3-pointers and two free throws, and then Rae Burrell and Hamby had layups to push the Sparks' lead to 77-67 with 1:56 to go.
Hamby also made a driving layup with 19.7 seconds left after Washington got back to 77-72.
The Mystics missed their first eight shots as the Sparks broke out to a 12-0 lead. Stefanie Dolson ended the drought with a 3-pointer at the 4:53 mark but the Sparks led 22-11 after one quarter.
Washington came out hot in the second quarter and caught the Sparks at 22 but the Sparks surged again and led 40-31 at the half.
A 3-pointer from Cameron Brink and a layup by Burrell gave the Sparks their big lead, 52-38, with 3:17 left in the third quarter, which ended with the Sparks up 55-49. Earlier in the fourth quarter, Dolson hit a 3-pointer for Washington's only lead, 56-55.
Former NBA star Pau Gasol was courtside with his daughter.
Mystics host Phoenix on Thursday, and Sparks play at Seattle on Monday.
Regular Season Series
LA wins series 3-1
Recent Plays
| 4th 0.0 |  |
End of Game | 78 - 81 |
| 4th 0.0 | |
End of the 4th Quarter | 78 - 81 |
| 4th 0.0 | |
(00:00) [Mystics] REF-INITIATED REVIEW (CALL STANDS) | 78 - 81 |
| 4th 4.0 |  |
Sonia Citron makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jade Melbourne assists) | 78 - 81 |
| 4th 7.8 | |
Mystics timeout | 75 - 81 |
Statistics
 WSH |
 LA |
|
|---|---|---|
| 28-72 | FG | 28-70 |
| 39 | Field Goal % | 40 |
| 9-23 | 3PT | 10-36 |
| 39 | Three Point % | 28 |
| 13-18 | FT | 15-18 |
| 72 | Free Throw % | 83 |
| 40 | Rebounds | 40 |
| 9 | Offensive Rebounds | 7 |
| 31 | Defensive Rebounds | 33 |
| 20 | Assists | 19 |
| 9 | Steals | 6 |
| 3 | Blocks | 3 |
| 11 | Turnovers | 13 |
| 2 | Team Turnovers | 1 |
| 13 | Total Turnovers | 14 |
| 0 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 12 | Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 18 |
| 6 | Fast Break Points | 18 |
| 26 | Points in Paint | 36 |
| 16 | Fouls | 18 |
| 1 | Largest Lead | 14 |
Game Information
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Attendance: 12,218 · Capacity:
2024-25 Eastern Conference Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Atlanta |
- | 14 | W6 | 0.6818182 | 30 |
 New York |
3 | 17 | W3 | 0.6136364 | 27 |
 Indiana |
6 | 20 | W3 | 0.54545456 | 24 |
 Washington |
14 | 28 | L10 | 0.36363637 | 16 |
 Connecticut |
19 | 33 | L2 | 0.25 | 11 |
 Chicago |
20 | 34 | L4 | 0.22727273 | 10 |
2024-25 Western Conference Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Minnesota |
- | 10 | W1 | 0.77272725 | 34 |
 Las Vegas |
4 | 14 | W16 | 0.6818182 | 30 |
 Phoenix |
7 | 17 | L3 | 0.6136364 | 27 |
 Seattle |
11 | 21 | W1 | 0.52272725 | 23 |
 Golden State |
11 | 21 | L3 | 0.52272725 | 23 |
 Los Angeles |
13 | 23 | L1 | 0.47727272 | 21 |
 Dallas |
24 | 34 | W1 | 0.22727273 | 10 |
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