The Los Angeles Sparks fell to the New York Liberty 113-109 on Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena, extending their losing streak to six games. Despite a spirited effort and a balanced scoring attack, the Sparks were unable to overcome an 11-point deficit late in the game, with New York closing out the victory in the final seconds.

The Sparks (10-17) have now dropped six consecutive contests since their July 13 loss to the Atlanta Dream. Trailing 112-109 with 15 seconds remaining, Nneka Ogwumike hit a three-pointer to narrow the gap, but Breanna Stewart secured the win for New York (16-12) by sinking a pair of free throws with 13.9 seconds left.

Los Angeles played without leading scorer Kelsey Plum, who has been sidelined by a lower leg injury since their last meeting on June 25. Nonetheless, the team shared the offensive load, with six players scoring in double figures. Rae Burrell led the squad with 24 points, followed by Ogwumike’s 21 points and nine assists. Erica Wheeler contributed 17 points and nine assists, Ariel Atkins added 16 points and five assists, Dearica Hamby scored 12, and Cameron Brink finished with 11 points.

The Sparks’ balanced performance included a franchise-record 35 assists, underscoring their team play despite the loss. Coach Lynne Roberts expressed pride in her team’s effort, highlighting their 30 points off 18 turnovers and overall field goal advantage. New York’s Stewart posted 29 points, while Sabrina Ionescu added 27, despite the Liberty missing several key players due to injury and concussion protocols.

The game served as the backdrop for a significant moment in Sparks history: the retirement of DeLisha Milton-Jones’s No. 8 jersey during halftime. Milton-Jones, a two-time WNBA champion with the Sparks and a standout over 11 seasons with the franchise, became the fourth player in team history to receive this honor. Joining the ranks of Penny Toler, Lisa Leslie, and Candace Parker, Milton-Jones’s legacy was celebrated in an emotional ceremony attended by her husband Roland Jones and Candace Parker.

Milton-Jones ranks among the Sparks’ all-time leaders in several categories, including points, rebounds, blocks, and assists. Her contributions were instrumental in securing the team’s championships in 2001 and 2002, and she holds a prominent place in the franchise’s 30-year history.

On the court, the Sparks overcame New York’s early lead to enter the fourth quarter trailing by just one point. After a first quarter dominated by Ionescu’s 14 points that gave the Liberty a 36-30 advantage, Los Angeles ramped up their defensive intensity in the second quarter and led 56-53 at halftime. Burrell and Brink were key contributors during this stretch, scoring 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Despite leading by as many as nine points during the game, the Sparks could not maintain their advantage in the closing stages. Wheeler noted the team executed better than in recent games but acknowledged the need for crucial defensive stops late in the contest.

Looking ahead, the Sparks will embark on a three-game road trip starting Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers. Roberts emphasized the importance of taking the challenging schedule one game at a time and expressed confidence in the team’s ability to perform at a higher level.

With the WNBA trade deadline approaching, the status of Plum remains uncertain. Roberts acknowledged that the organization is reviewing its options as it seeks to improve its standing both in the short and long term. “We’re not where we want to be right now,” she said, underscoring the team’s commitment to turning the season around.