Los Angeles takes control early to beat Connecticut

Connecticut’s Saniya Rivers  (22) and Los Angeles’ Nneka Ogwumike (30) hug after Saturday night’s WNBA game in Los Angeles. The Sparks won to prevent the Sun from a three-game season sweep of the series. (Photo by Tyler Ross/NBAE via Getty Images)

Elimination from the WNBA playoffs from the second straight season for the Connecticut Sun came earlier in the week. On Saturday night, the Sun had one final opportunity to face the Los Angeles Sparks and WNBA veteran Nneka Oguwmike for the second time in five days.

Oguwmike, who announced her intention to retire from the WNBA on Wednesday, had 11 points and 11 rebounds – the 131st double-double of her 15-year WNBA career – as the Sparks beat Connecticut, 77-68.

Rae Burrell had 20 points as the Sparks (13-24) snapped a six-game losing streak. The Sun (9-27) had beaten Los Angeles on Tuesday in Boston leading from start to finish in an 85-77 victory.

Los Angeles used strong starts in the first and third quarter to control the game. The Sparks outscored Connecticut by10 (32-22) in the first quarter and by 12 in the third quarter (22-10).

“Defensively were dialed in. Offensively we’re playing with pace,” Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts said. “That’s how we want to start the games. I thought defensively, you know, we were talking better. Our pickup points were better. We were focused on getting consecutive stops like everyone was in on what we needed to do.

Saniya Rivers paced Connecticut with 14 points while Leila Lacan scored 13 points and Kennedy Burker added 11 points.

The short-handed Sun were without 6-foot-9 Brittney Griner and 6-foot-3 Aaliyah Edwards for the fifth straight game and the eighth time in 10 games dating back to July 19.

Griner has a left knee injury while Edwards has a left ankle injury. Griner was in uniform but did not play. Edwards was in street clothes.

Connecticut’s 6-5 Olivia Nelson-Ododa, who had averaged 17.6 points in the last three games got into foul trouble and scored just two points in the contest.

The Sun return to action with a pair of games in Uncasville on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Sun will retire the jersey of Tina Charles on Tuesday when they host Chicago. On Wednesday, the Sun will host Golden State and former UConn star Gabby Williams at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

Ogwumike, a one-time league MVP and WNBA champion with the Sparks, is currently the president of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association. She announced her retirement in an exclusive interview with Taylor Rooks for Boardroom Talks.

“I’ve learned there’s power in knowing when to walk away. For so long, that strength meant finding a way to keep pushing. Now, it means recognizing when you feel complete. I find myself grateful, fulfilled, and at peace with everything this game has given me and everything I’ve poured into it,” Ogwumike said.

She received hugs from Griner and Rivers after the game. With the Sun moving to Houston as the end of the season, it was the final game between the two franchises.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 WNBA Draft, Ogwumike retires as one of the most decorated and consequential players of her generation. Her career includes the 2012 Rookie of the Year award, the 2016 WNBA MVP and championship and 11 All-Star selections.

As WNBPA President since 2016, Ogwumike has been one of the most influential player leaders during a transformational period for the WNBA and women’s professional sports.

During her tenure, WNBA players have secured the single largest salary increase from one CBA to the next in the history of professional sports, along with expanded benefits, player protections and resources that have helped redefine the standard for women’s professional basketball.