AUBURN HILLS, Mich., June 17 (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Sparks' bid for the best start in WNBA history disappeared in 20 disastrous minutes.

NBA TV highlights from Sparks-Shock: 56k | 300k

Swin Cash scored 20 points to lead six players in double figures as the Detroit Shock rallied from a 16-point deficit to hand the Sparks their first loss of the season, an 87-78 overtime defeat.

Los Angeles coach Michael Cooper challenged his players to go unbeaten last season, but they lost in their fourth game. The Sparks won their first nine games this year to match the best start in league history.

Los Angeles had the record in its sights as it bridged the halves with a 26-4 run to take its largest lead at 48-32 with 16:02 left.

Detroit chipped away with a balanced scoring attack and took its first lead of the second half, 70-69, on a pair of free throws by Elaine Powell with three minutes left.

Bill Laimbeer and Michael Cooper experienced opposite emotions after Tuesday's game. Allen Einstein/WNBAE/Getty Images

Ruth Riley buried a pair of free throws with three seconds to go to force overtime and opened the extra session with a jumper to give the Shock the lead for good, 78-76.

Detroit opened overtime with seven straight points before Los Angeles' Tamecka Dixon sank two free throws at the 72-second mark.

The free throws were the only points after regulation for the Sparks, who did not make a basket in the final 5:51

Riley finished with 15 points and seven rebounds and ElainePowell scored 13 points for Detroit. Deanna Nolan and KedraHolland-Corn each had 11 and Cheryl Ford chipped in 11 and a career-high 15 rebounds.

Dixon scored 22 points and Mwadi Mabika added 12 for Los Angeles, which had won 18 consecutive games, including the 2002 playoffs.

Sparks star Lisa Leslie played just 19 minutes due to foul trouble and was held to 13 points and six rebounds. She had her streak of six straight double-doubles snapped.