Los Angeles – Rookie Nneka Ogwumike scored with 2.5 seconds remaining to lift the Los Angeles Sparks to a 67-65 victory over the Seattle Storm on Sunday night.
Ogwumike, the No. 1 overall pick from Stanford, took an inbound pass and made a right-hand running shot over Ann Wauters as the Sparks beat Seattle for the third time in 16 days.
The game-winning play was initially drawn up for Candace Parker but Alana Beard couldn’t find her. Ogwumike got the ball on the perimeter, to the right of the basket and she wasn’t confident when it left her hand.
“Actually it didn’t because floaters are my worst shot,” Ogwumike said. “I was very concerned about the outcome. But in that kind of moment, dimensions, the geometrics of everything really kind of fall into place and it’s about getting the ball and doing it.”
Los Angeles (5-1) prevailed despite shooting a season-worst 34.9 percent from the field. Kristi Toliver led the Sparks with 23 points and Parker added 16 points and 13 rebounds.
Katie Smith led Seattle (1-4) with 19 points while Sue Bird added 12. The game-winning basket hurt more for Seattle considering it had a foul to give.
“We talked about giving one, but we just never got it accomplished,” Seattle coach Brian Agler said. “Nneka hit a hell of a shot. Ann was right on her. She sort of shot it around Ann’s arm.”
Before the game a moment of silence was observed for former Sparks coach and NBA player Orlando Woolridge, who died Thursday.
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