Sparks Show Out on HBCU Night

By Devon Lewis (Via DevsMediaHub)

The Los Angeles Sparks capped off a night of pride and celebration with a statement win on HBCU Night at Crypto.com Arena, defeating the Washington Mystics 77–70. The evening began with a spirited college fair honoring Historically Black Colleges and Universities, where fans were encouraged to “Wear Your Colors, Rep Your Legacy, Celebrate Your Pride.”

The Sparks opened the night with a defensive statement, holding Washington scoreless until the 4:54 mark of the first quarter. That shutout fueled a 12–0 run and gave Los Angeles an early double-digit lead, setting the tone for the rest of the contest. By halftime, the Sparks had limited the Mystics to just 31 points, the fewest they’ve allowed in a first half this season.

Dearica Hamby controlled the paint with 20 points and 12 rebounds, securing her 11th double-double of the season while hitting two key career milestones: her 100th block and 1,500th field goal. Rickea Jackson continued to stretch the floor, contributing 16 points and extending her streak to 11 straight games with multiple threes, a testament to her consistent perimeter threat. Kelsey Plum took over in the fourth quarter by scoring 14 of her 18 points in crunch time, facilitating the offense with seven assists, and finishing with a +22 impact rating, showing her ability to influence both ends of the floor. Azurá Stevens anchored the frontcourt alongside Hamby, grabbing 12 rebounds, adding nine points, and dishing four assists, giving the Sparks elite balance inside and out.

With 33 defensive rebounds and a strong finish, the Sparks asserted control in the paintand closed out the game with resilience. They carried that momentum into Seattle thefollowing night by defeating the Storm, and keeping their postseason hopes alive with a 19-20 record. HBCU Night provided a fun and meaningful backdrop, celebrating culture and community while the Sparks delivered a hard-fought performance on the court.

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