Azura Stevens, Kelsey Plum each score 20-plus and the Sparks beat the short-handed Fever 85-75
Azura Stevens, Kelsey Plum each score 20-plus and the Sparks beat the short-handed Fever 85-75
Los Angeles Sparks’ Kelsey Plum (10) shoots against Indiana Fever’s Lexie Hull (10 during the second half in a WNBA basketball game, Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Fever’s Aari McDonald, left, and Los Angeles Sparks’ Azura Stevens battle for the ball during the second half in a WNBA basketball game, Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell looks at the scoreboard during the second half in a WNBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Sparks, Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Los Angeles Sparks’ Kelsey Plum (10) shoots against Indiana Fever’s Lexie Hull (10 during the second half in a WNBA basketball game, Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Los Angeles Sparks’ Kelsey Plum (10) shoots against Indiana Fever’s Lexie Hull (10 during the second half in a WNBA basketball game, Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Fever’s Aari McDonald, left, and Los Angeles Sparks’ Azura Stevens battle for the ball during the second half in a WNBA basketball game, Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Fever’s Aari McDonald, left, and Los Angeles Sparks’ Azura Stevens battle for the ball during the second half in a WNBA basketball game, Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell looks at the scoreboard during the second half in a WNBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Sparks, Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell looks at the scoreboard during the second half in a WNBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Sparks, Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Azura Stevens scored 23 points, Kelsey Plum had 21 points and six assists, and the Los Angeles Sparks ended a four-game losing streak by beating the short-handed Indiana Fever 85-75 on Thursday night.
Indiana played without Caitlin Clark due to a groin injury. Clark had recently returned from a quad injury that kept her sidelined for five games. She returned on June 14 and scored 32 points to help the Fever to a 102-88 victory against the Liberty.
Plum made a 3-pointer with 4:13 left to give Los Angeles a 67-66 lead, its first since the opening minute of the second quarter. She added two free throws on their next possession to cap a 21-8 run spanning the third-quarter break.
Los Angeles sealed it by grabbing two offensive rebounds with under a minute to play. Dearica Hamby was fouled while making a layup to give the Sparks a 79-75 lead. She missed the free throw but Stevens grabbed it and completed a three-point play to make it 81-75 with 49 seconds left.
Hamby and Rickea Jackson each scored 14 points for Los Angeles (5-11).
Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana (7-8) with 20 points and Aliyah Boston had 12 points, 10 rebounds and five steals.
Indiana led 31-22 before Los Angeles went on an 8-0 run, capped by Shey Peddy’s 3-pointer to get within one. Sophie Cunningham answered with a 3-pointer and the Fever led 34-30 at the break after forcing 15 turnovers.
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