Chris Paul, outfitted in a mocha-toned sweatsuit and his signature fire-red Air Jordans, took a quiet seat on the Sparks’ bench, a quiet yet undeniable presence.
While the young NBA star left the applause to his wife and daughter, his basketball perception appeared to echo across the court, reaching the Sparks’ Kelsey Plum.
Plum, often the centrepiece of any Sparks game, showcased her scoring flair and unselfish play, driving the team in a coast-to-coast battle with the New York Liberty. The contest was a tense tug-of-war until the closing minutes, when the rope slipped from the Sparks’ grasp in a 105-97 defeat. Plum finished with 26 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
“It came down to them scoring 105 points,” Plum said. “Like, 97 is a lot of points.”
The Liberty were without veteran star Breanna Stewart, sidelined by a right knee bone bruise, but found their rhythm through the experienced Emma Meesseman. Making her presence felt just weeks after joining the Liberty, the 2019 Finals MVP showed no signs of rust despite a three-year WNBA hiatus spent competing for Belgium. Meesseman scored a season-high 24 points and pulled down nine rebounds, steering her team’s offense with poise and precision.
“She’s one of the best players in the world,” Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said. “She’s got great hands… she’s just good. She’s so smart, skilled, big, she changes their team.”
Stewart’s injury occurred in the previous meeting between these two sides on July 26, a game before Sparks sophomore standout Cameron Brink returned from a 13-month layoff due to a knee injury. But on this night, Brink’s return was cut short. She tweaked her left ankle late in the second quarter, was seen getting it wrapped, and did not return to action.
“I have not talked to the medical team yet,” Roberts said. “But yeah, she tweaked her ankle. She’s still on a minutes restriction, so the decision was made not to put her back in.”
Without their top defensive anchor, the Sparks leaned on Dearica Hamby and Azurá Stevens to protect the paint. The pair combined for 38 points and 12 rebounds, keeping the game competitive, but the defensive pressure wasn’t enough to contain a Liberty side that shot 50% from beyond the arc and nearly 56% overall.
“We’ve got to do a better job defensively,” Roberts admitted. “I have not lost an ounce of faith or confidence in them, just a tough night for us tonight.”
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The tension wasn’t limited to the court. Fans clashed verbally with the officials over foul calls — and non-calls — throughout the game. Roberts joined the chorus, engaging in an extended exchange with referee Tyler Mirkovich during the second quarter and punctuating her point with a sarcastic double thumbs-up.
“I mean, I would appreciate being communicated to from an official,” Roberts said. “Nothing will piss a coach off more than not being communicated to.”
Ultimately, no whistle could rescue the Sparks from a 10-point deficit with less than half a minute to play.
Pic Credit (Instagram: Chris Paul)
