Sparks’ season ends in blowout

Being out of postseason contention didn’t make the Sparks’ season finale meaningless.

- By ANTHONY DE LEon

DEARICA HAMBY (5) scores against A'ja Wilson as the Aces crush the Sparks.

It was a chance to avoid finishing with a losing record for the first time since 2020. An opportunity to foil the Las Vegas Aces’ push for the No. 2 seed in the playoffs while derailing a 15-game winning streak. And, above all, a matter of pride.

But just as with their season-long goal of reaching the playoffs, the Sparks fell short of their goal, as A’ja Wilson and the Aces dominated in a 103-75 victory at Crypto.com Arena.

The talent gap was stark in the first half, with Las Vegas building a lead that swelled to 22 behind a three-point barrage led by Jewell Loyd and Chelsea Gray.

One of the league’s best three-point shooting teams (34.6% per game entering Thursday), the Aces (30-14) sank Il threes in the first half to take a 19-point lead by halftime.