09/25/26 12:08:00
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09/25 00:06 CDT Valkyries rally past the Sparks 76-75 to secure No. 2 seed and
spoil Nneka Ogwumike's final game
Valkyries rally past the Sparks 76-75 to secure No. 2 seed and spoil Nneka
Ogwumike's final game
LOS ANGELES (AP) --- Kaitlyn Chen scored 14 of her 18 points in the fourth
quarter, Gabby Williams added eight points in the final 90 seconds, and the
Golden State Valkyries closed on a 17-4 run to beat the Los Angeles Sparks
76-75 on Thursday night in the final game for former WNBA MVP Nneka Ogwumike.
Golden State (32-11) secured the No. 2 seed in the WNBA playoffs and will face
seventh-seeded Dallas in a first-round series beginning on Sunday.
Ogwumike had 17 points, 15 rebounds and five assists for Los Angeles (16-27) in
the final game of her 15-year career. Ogwumike, who announced on Aug. 19 she
would retire after this season, and her 19th double-double of the season ---
and 134th of her career to rank sixth in league history.
Dearica Hamby and Rae Burrell each scored 15 for Los Angeles.
Los Angeles had a 69-57 lead with 4:42 left, but did not make another field
goal until the final second.
Williams took over down the stretch. She sank a long 3-pointer with 1:30
remaining and stole the ball at the other end before racing for a fast-break
layup to get within 72-70. After a miss by Los Angeles, Williams made a
3-pointer with 20.4 seconds left to go ahead 73-72.
The Sparks had two chances on their next possession before Kiah Stokes secured
the defensive rebound. Los Angeles coach Lynne Roberts was called for a
technical foul with 10.8 seconds left and Kayla Thornton made the free throw
for a 74-72 lead. Thornton added two more free throws with 8.5 left for a 76-72
lead.
Williams finished with 14 points in just 20 minutes for Golden State. Veronica
Burton added 17.
Up next
Valkyries: Look to improve to 4-0 this season against the Wings on Sunday.
Sparks: Season is over.
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See AP's full WNBA coverage here
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