Advertisement

Chelsea Gray and Candace Parker push Sparks to overtime win over Dream

Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker (3) sets up a play during the first half of a WNBA basketball game.
Sparks forward Candace Parker.
(Phelan M. Ebenhack / Associated Press)
Share via

Chelsea Gray scored 20 points and Candace Parker tied it in regulation and drew a key charge in overtime as the Sparks rallied to beat the Atlanta Dream 93-85 on Friday night.

Courtney Williams made a free-throw line jumper with 3.7 seconds left in regulation to give Atlanta a 79-77 lead. After a timeout, Parker took an inbound pass and drove the lane to tie it with a layup at the buzzer.

Glory Johnson opened the extra session with a long jumper, but Atlanta didn’t score again until Betnijah Laney‘s basket with 35.9 seconds left.

Advertisement

Racism deprived Mabel Fairbanks the chance to become a figure skating champion in the 1930s. As a coach, she made sure her Black students got those opportunities.

Parker had 17 points, nine rebounds and five assists for the Sparks (9-3), who have won six straight games. Sydney Wiese added 15 points, Nneka Ogwumike scored 14 and Brittney Sykes 12.

Johnson paced Atlanta (2-11) with 23 points on 10-for-16 shooting. Williams and Shekinna Stricklen each scored 16 points. Atlanta has lost 10 straight since beating New York on July 31.

Stricklen sank a contested three-pointer with 6.3 seconds left in the third quarter to cap a 12-1 run for a 58-56 lead entering the fourth.

Advertisement