Los Angeles Sparks beat Toronto 99-95

Los Angeles beat Toronto 99-95 on Friday, May 15, at Crypto.com Arena for the Sparks’ first win of the 2026 season. Kelsey Plum scored 25 points and added nine assists, and Nneka Ogwumike and Dearica Hamby combined for 39 more as Los Angeles improved to 1-2. Toronto, playing its first road game as an expansion team, fell to 1-2 after nearly erasing a 20-point second-half deficit. The teams were scheduled to meet again in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 17. ### How did Los Angeles put Toronto in an early hole? Los Angeles opened with the game’s first 10 points and stretched the margin to 21-2 in the first quarter, according to the WNBA game recap. The Sparks shot 11-for-18 in the opening period and led 28-17 after one quarter. The Sparks’ efficiency held up across the night. Los Angeles finished 37-for-58 from the field, or 63.8%, while Toronto shot 31-for-70, or 44.3%, according to the official box score. (wnba.com) Los Angeles also outscored Toronto 54-30 in the paint. ### What did Plum do to steady the Sparks? Kelsey Plum scored 18 of her 25 points in the second half, the WNBA recap said. (wnba.com) The guard made 10 of 16 shots, hit four 3-pointers and handed out nine assists in 32 minutes, according to the box score. The closing sequence ran through Plum as well. After Toronto cut the deficit to two points with 2:23 left, Plum and Ogwumike combined for the next six points, and Plum made two free throws with 13.8 seconds remaining to push the lead to 97-93, the recap said. (wnba.com) ### Which other Sparks numbers mattered most? Nneka Ogwumike scored 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting, and Dearica Hamby added 19 points on 8-for-10 shooting, according to the official box score. (wnba.com) Rae Burrell finished with 13 points, and Erica Wheeler had 10 points and seven assists as all five Los Angeles starters scored in double figures. Cameron Brink scored 10 points off the bench in 16 minutes. Los Angeles had only one bench player score, but its starters and interior scoring offset Toronto’s reserve production. ### How close did Toronto come to stealing it back? Toronto trailed by 20 in the second half and was down 58-38 after a 12-0 Los Angeles run early in the third quarter, the WNBA recap said. (wnba.com) The Tempo cut the margin to 74-63 by the end of the third and got within two points with 2:23 to play. Brittney Sykes scored 27 points for Toronto, while Laura Juskaite added 16 off the bench and Nyara Sabally had 14. (wnba.com) Kiki Rice scored 11 as Toronto’s reserves produced 42 points, compared with 10 bench points for Los Angeles. ### What does the box score say about how the game was won? The official box score showed Los Angeles had 26 assists on 37 made field goals, compared with 22 assists on 31 baskets for Toronto. (wnba.com) The Sparks also made 9 of 21 from 3-point range and 16 of 20 free throws. Toronto created extra chances in some areas. The Tempo forced 16 Los Angeles turnovers, grabbed 10 offensive rebounds and shot 21-for-22 at the foul line, but the Sparks’ shot-making efficiency carried the result. (wnba.com) ### What comes next in this two-game set? Sunday, May 17, was set to bring the rematch in Los Angeles, according to the WNBA recap. (wnba.com) The game would close the Sparks’ four-game season-opening homestand and give Toronto a second straight road meeting at Crypto.com Arena. (wnba.com)