SPARKS NOTES:

• The Sparks lost their third straight game
• Los Angeles shot 29-64 (45.3%) from the field
• The Sparks shot 12-13 (92.3%) from the free throw line
• Nneka Ogwumike recorded 22 points and a season-high 13 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the year
• The Sparks scored 38 points in the paint
• Chelsea Gray shot 10-14 from the field for a game-high 23 points
• Nneka Ogwumike has reached double-digit scoring in each of the 17 games in which she has played
• Odyssey Sims made her first start since LA’s June 22 loss to the Dallas Wings

MYSTICS NOTES:

• The Mystics shot 32-35 from the line, good for 91.4%
• Kristi Toliver had 20 points on the night, shooting a season-best 13-13 from the free throw line
• The Mystics made only one 3-pointer on 16 attempts
• The Mystics had 18 bench points on the night
• Washington shot 25-61 (41%) from the field
• Elena Delle Done had 11 points, giving her nine straight double-digit games
• Washington out-rebounded the Sparks 34-30

Quotes:

Sparks Guard Alana Beard

On giving up 32 free throws to Washington

“[It’s] huge. Free throws are indicative of how we play defensively. We allowed them to get to their spots, we were slow on rotations, slow on our footwork. They wanted it more and were being more aggressive in that sense, so it played a huge role.”

On what team can do to improve going forward

“Everything. We are at a point in our season where it goes beyond x’s and o’s. It comes down to the intangibles that we are not showcasing right now on the court. And with those intangibles, it comes from heart and passion and determination and wanting to get certain things done, and collectively it’s not there.”

Sparks Center Candace Parker

On her overall impressions of the game

“Yeah. Today was obviously a tough game. Them scoring 53 points in the second half didn’t help us.”

On what team can do to end losing streak

“I think we just have to do something that feels good. I think that’s the key to making our offenses flow and making our defenses, you know, I think we’re best when we’re aggressive defensively.”

Sparks Coach Brian Agler

On impressions of the game

“I thought we made a good comeback in the first half. Second half we gave up too many points. We couldn’t keep them off the free throw line. The result is very disappointing. I thought our focus was good; we had some people really give a lot, Nneka [Ogwumike], Alana [Beard], Essence Chelsea down the stretch. They battled hard. We get a day off tomorrow, and we come back in here on Monday, and get better.”

On putting Odyssey Sims back in the lineup

“I thought it would help Chelsea a little bit, and give us another ball handler out there. I don’t know how we will move forward here with this, but we got to find a way to get the energy back.”

On the flow of the game form an officiating standpoint

“We couldn’t get them off of the free throw line. They were having a hard time hitting shots on us, but they found a way to get to the free throw line.”

Mystics Guard Kristi Toliver

On her stat line and 13 free throws

“I just wanted to be aggressive, but also let the game come to me.”

On mismatches she saw on the court

“LA is tough. They present different looks throughout the game. Nothing was consistent; they always kept you on your toes, read the defense, and make plays.”

On Washington taking 35 free throws

“We had to by the way they defended us. They were really aggressive, sometimes trapping. You can turn the corner and get a teammate open. We wanted to get to the line and be the aggressor.”

Mystics Center LaToya Sanders

On her performance

“They did a really good job on focusing on Elena. They just gave me open jump shots and that’s something that I can do.”

On Washington shooting 1-16 from the three-point line

“That’s very uncharacteristic of us because I think we are one of the top 3-point shooting teams in the league, but we had extra possessions with our offensive rebounds and getting stops on the defensive end.”

Mystics Coach Mike Thibault

On current competitiveness of the WNBA

“The parity in our league is as good as it’s ever been. There’s only one team that’s in total rebuild in Indiana (Fever) and everybody else can make the playoffs.”

On Mystics’ schedule going forward

“Our schedule is only going to get tougher because we have a ton of road games this month. Hopefully it’s as problematic for other teams, but it’s just one of those years where you don’t ever feel like you have practice time.”

On team’s performance without major scoring from Elena Delle Donne

“They double teamed her [Della Donne] a lot to make her a passer and she found her teammates. We had a lot of other people step up. Victoria Sanders was great, Natasha went to the basket, Kristy does what she usually does. I feel like we got a lot of players involved.”

On limiting Candace Parker’s production

“We were pretty dialed in on how to play her. I thought we tried to change up how play her. Sometimes we switched on her, sometimes we doubled in the post. I thought Elena [Delle Donne] and LaToya [Sanders] got up and made her work tonight.”

On his 300th win

“It just means I’ve been at it for a long time. It’s a nice number, but the only number I care about is that we’re the last team standing.”