Dearica Hamby Leads Sparks Past Mercury in 97-88 Road Win
- Eric Liu
- May 21
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 2
The Los Angeles Sparks picked up an important early-season road win on May 21, defeating the Phoenix Mercury 97-88 in a high-scoring matchup in Phoenix.
Dearica Hamby led the way for Los Angeles with a dominant performance, finishing with 27 points and 15 rebounds. Her activity on both ends helped the Sparks control the interior and gave Los Angeles a steady scoring option throughout the night. The Sparks also showed strong offensive balance, with six players finishing in double figures as the team found consistent production across the lineup.
Phoenix opened the game with energy and looked to push the pace early, but Los Angeles responded with patience and ball movement. The Sparks attacked the paint, created open looks, and avoided relying on just one scorer. Hamby’s rebounding and finishing gave Los Angeles a clear advantage inside, while the rest of the rotation helped stretch the Mercury defense.
The key stretch came in the second quarter. After a competitive opening period, the Sparks found their rhythm and began to separate. Los Angeles used a strong second-quarter run to build control of the game, turning defensive stops into transition chances and forcing Phoenix to play from behind. That stretch became the difference as the Sparks carried momentum into halftime.
In the second half, Phoenix continued to fight back, but Los Angeles had answers. Every time the Mercury cut into the lead, the Sparks responded with timely baskets and strong rebounding. Hamby continued to anchor the team, while the Sparks’ balanced scoring made it difficult for Phoenix to focus on one player defensively.
The Mercury made a late push, but Los Angeles stayed composed in the closing minutes. The Sparks protected the ball, worked the clock, and finished possessions with enough efficiency to secure the road victory.
For Los Angeles, the win showed the team’s offensive depth and ability to execute away from home. Hamby’s double-double gave the game its headline, but the Sparks’ complete team effort was what carried them to the 97-88 result.
