Postgame Notes: Sparks vs. Storm
Published on August 30, 2026 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Last updated: August 30, 2026
Source: Los Angeles Sparks News Release
Game Leaders:
Sparks
PTS - Nneka Ogwumike (23) REB - Nneka Ogwumike (12) AST - Erica Wheeler/Tonie Morgan (4)
Storm
PTS - Flau'jae Johnson (19) REB - Dominique Malonga (15) AST - Dominique Malonga/Jade Melbourne/Stefanie Dolson (3)
Key Takeaways:
With her one offensive rebound, Ogwumike now holds sole possession of 6th all-time on the WNBA list.
The forward's game -high 23 points (9-for-17 FG, 4-for-7 3PT, 1-for-1 FT) and team-high 12 rebounds mark her 132nd double-double of her career and 17th of the season
Rae Burrell scored 22 points (8-for-8 FT), marking her 10th time scoring 20+ points in a game this season. She also contributed four rebounds, three assists and one steal
Dearica Hamby tallied 11 rebounds, marking her 8th time recording 10+ rebounds in a game this season. The forward also recorded a game-high four steals, six points and two assists
Cameron Brink recorded a game-high-tying two blocks in addition to her 11 points (4- for-4 FT), six rebounds, two assists and one steal
Los Angeles limited Seattle to 34.1% (28-for-82) from the field and 18.2% (4-for-22) from three-point territory while leading the Storm in fast break points (19-14) and assists (23-17)
First Quarter:
Burrell opened scoring for the competition with a layup at the 8:34 mark via an assist from Ariel Atkins
Los Angeles opened the competition on an 18-2 scoring run until the 3:22 mark
The Storm's 11 points in the first quarter are the fewest points the Sparks have allowed by an opponent this season
Ogwumike scored a game-high nine points (4-for-6 FG, 1-for-2 3PT) in the opening quarter
The Sparks led the Storm in paint points (12-4) and limited Seattle to 21.1% (4-for-19) from the field, 0.0% (0-for-8) from beyond the arc, no second chance points (2-0) and no fast break points (2-0)
Second Quarter:
Chance Gray opened scoring for the second quarter with a three-pointer at the 8:48 mark via an assist from Brink
Los Angeles went on a 19-6 scoring run from the 8:22 to the 1:56 mark to make the score 47-26, Sparks' advantage
Hamby tallied a game-high seven rebounds in the first half alongside a team-high two steals and six points (3-for-4 FG)
Los Angeles led the Storm in rebounds (22-11) and assists (15-5) in the first half of play
Third Quarter:
Erica Wheeler opened field scoring for the Sparks in the second half with a three-pointer at the 7:57 mark via an assist Burrell
Los Angeles went on a 10-2 scoring run from the 8:45 to the 6:40 mark to make the score 64- 38, Spark's advantage
Burrell scored a team-high seven points (3-for-3 FT) in the third quarter in less than eight minutes of action
The Sparks led the Storm in fast break points (9-4) and steals (4-1)
Fourth Quarter:
The Storm went on 22-6 run from the 3:25 mark in the third quarter to the 7:02 mark in the fourth quarter to make the score 72-58, Sparks' advantage
Los Angeles went on a 9-0 run from the 4:18 to the 2:26 mark to make the score 89-69, Sparks' advantage
Ogwumike scored a team-high six points (2-for-3 3PT), recorded four rebounds and one steal in the fourth quarter
The Sparks limited the Storm to 39.1% (9-for-23) from the field and 14.3% (1-for-7) from three-point territory in the final quarter Pregame Quotes:
Head Coach Lynne Roberts
On gaining Aaliyah Nye:
"We'll get [ Aaliyah Nye ] after the break and get her acclimated as soon as we can. Obviously, we drafted Sarah Ashlee Barker from the same Alabama team, and we lost'SA'in the expansion draft. But, I watched Aaliyah play a lot. She had a good rookie season in Vegas, and she can shoot. She's got a really quick trigger, good size and she's young... So, she's got a lot of basketball in front of her, but we like her shooting and her size." On the upcoming break: "I think everybody needs days off, so we told them to get away, unplug, recharge and do what you want to do. Then, we'll get back to the gym on [September 8th] for some kind of individual workouts, skill development [and] player development. Then, we'll start practicing on the 11thand then we finish with four games. It's kind of weird with an unnatural break at the end of the season, but we're going to try to use it to our advantage."
Postgame Quotes:
Head Coach Lynne Roberts
On Cameron Brink's offense:
"I think [ Cameron Brink ] is figuring out where she can get her shots. Her ability to shoot the three has elevated her versatility. She's not afraid to shoot them, which is great. I thought she was aggressive. It wasn't a great shooting night for her, but I love her aggressiveness and I think she was really good at defending inside. [Dominique Malonga] is a handful and there were a few times that'Cam'went head-to-head and got one block on her, and did a great job of not fouling. So, her minutes are continuing to go up, which is awesome. We just want to keep pouring into her. She's just scratching the surface."
Nneka Ogwumike On her time with Seattle:
"I'm not really sure if it's up to me to decide what I want to be remembered as, but I want hopefully everyone to feel as good about the relationships and connections that I've been able to feel really good about over my time, especially here in Seattle. I got to know so many different people, whether it was teammates, staff, coaches, fans, and the community. I think that's something that I really loved. That's probably most memorable with my time here; how immersed the Storm are in the community and how the community really is just embracing of women's basketball, women's sports [and] women empowerment. It's fantastic to be able to have been a part of [that]." On Rae Burrell's growth: "One thing about [ Rae Burrell ] is that she has always had this high level of play, this level of athleticism that is just very difficult to match and to stop. But what I'm seeing in her growth is her maturity and her understanding that with a lot of responsibility comes a lot of different types of attention. Whether it's being able to be a go-to player or also getting a lot of congestion. I think that's only going to be something that's continuing to level her game up. I spoke with her last game about how I was proud of how she was managing herself through the game when it didn't seem like things were going her way... So, it's amazing to be able to witness it and also be here on the team and hopefully support her in that way... I love seeing that level of mental maturity that she's exuding, especially as we go down the stretch of the season."
Rae Burrell On her decision making:
"I'm just trying to make the right plays... I feel that next level of reading the congestion and knowing that there's most likely another teammate open and still finding that balance between being aggressive and making the right play and reading what's going on. So, I'm just continuing to try and work on my playmaking ability and just reading what the defense has given me."
On her rebounds and assists:
"I think especially tonight we were trying to emphasize getting rebounds just because, obviously, Seattle's a big team. The [post players] are working hard down there, so the guards got to get in and try to rebound. So, I got to also use my athletic ability in other areas as well. I think that's something that I can continue to go after is rebounds because I feel that's a whole other level to my game that I can add. I was just trying to make the right plays with the passing just trying to see the floor and read the defense and see what's open. Sometimes, I feel that I force it a little bit when I see it, but I think that's just part of working on it. At least I know that I'm reading the right plays, and even if it doesn't get there, I have the right idea in mind. Those are just two areas that I'm just continuing to try and work on."
NEXT: The Sparks take on the Dallas Wings at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas on Thursday, September 17th at 5 p.m. PT
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