Los Angeles Sparks' Azura Stevens (23) goes by Indiana Fever's Natasha Howard (6) during the second half of a WNBA basketball game, Saturday, July 5, 2025, in Indianapolis.
Los Angeles Sparks' Emma Cannon (32) and Indiana Fever's Natasha Howard (6) batlle for a loose ball during the second half of a WNBA basketball game, Saturday, July 5, 2025, in Indianapolis.
Indiana Fever's Aliyah Boston (7) misses the game tying shot against Los Angeles Sparks' Mercedes Russell (21) during the second half of a WNBA basketball game, Saturday, July 5, 2025, in Indianapolis.
Los Angeles Sparks' Mercedes Russell (21) and Kelsey Plum react during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever, Saturday, July 5, 2025, in Indianapolis.
Indiana Fever's Sydney Colson (51)blocks the shot of Los Angeles Sparks' Rickea Jackson during the second half of a WNBA basketball game, Saturday, July 5, 2025, in Indianapolis.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Azura Stevens scored 21 points and added 12 rebounds, Kelsey Plum added 20 points and the Los Angeles Sparks won at Indianapolis for the second time in nine days, defeating the Fever, minus Caitlin Clark, 89-87 on Saturday night.
Since dominating the fourth quarter en route to , the Sparks had lost two straight. The Fever had won three, , without Clark. She missed her with a groin injury.
This game was close throughout. The Sparks' biggest lead was three points in the first quarter, and the Fever went up by eight midway through the third.
Dearica Hamby scored 18 points for the Sparks (6-13) and Rickea Jackson added 15, including that made it 88-87 with 57.4 seconds left.
Indiana missed its last five shots, four in the final minute. Stevens rebounded a miss and was fouled, making a free throw with 3.3 seconds to go. The Fever used their reset timeout but Aliyah Boston missed a shot from the top of the key.
Boston led Indiana (9-9) with 23 points and 12 rebounds, and Natasha Howard had 21 points and nine rebounds. Kelsey Mitchell added 19 points. Howard surpassed 2,000 career rebounds and Mitchell, who reached 600 3-pointers with three, broke a tie with Fever assistant coach Briann January with her 251st game for the Fever, second behind Tamika Catchings.
Mitchell had 13 points and Plum 11 in an evenly played first half that featured nine ties and nine lead changes before Indiana went on top 45-42. Plum scored the last seven LA points of the third quarter for a 70-69 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Indiana is home against Golden State on Wednesday and the Sparks face Minnesota at home on Thursday.
AP WNBA:
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