x
Breaking News
More () »

Ogwumike, Sparks beat Storm 81-53, keep playoff hopes alive

The Los Angeles Sparks beat the Seattle Storm 81-53 to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Credit: AP
Phoenix Mercury guard Kia Nurse, left, tries to pass against Seattle Storm defenders Breanna Stewart, center, and Epiphanny Prince, right, in the first half of a WNBA basketball game in Everett, Wash., Sunday July 11, 2021. (Bettina Hansen/The Seattle Times via AP)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Te'a Cooper scored 19 points, Nneka Ogwumike and Erica Wheeler added 17 points apiece, and the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Seattle Storm 81-53 to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The Sparks (11-19) pulled into a tie with the New York Liberty, one game behind the Washington Mystics for the eighth and final playoff spot with two games to play. 

Seattle (20-11) fell into fourth place, a half-game behind Minnesota and a half-game ahead of fifth-place Phoenix. 

The top four teams earn a first-round bye in the playoffs. 

The Storm set a season low for points while shooting 32% from the field and 22% (6 of 27) from 3-point range.

Seattle played without Breanna Stewart.  She's sitting out the final two regular season games with a foot injury.

Before You Leave, Check This Out