Despite a game-high 28-point showing from Rae Burrell, the Los Angeles Sparks lost a tight contest against the New York Liberty on Thursday, 85-81.
L.A. had an opportunity to force overtime near the end of regulation when the score was 84-81, but Ariel Atkins missed the potential game-tying triple. New York held on to secure the victory.
Sabrina Ionescu led New York with 20 points. Four others scored in double figures, with Rebecca Allen finishing with 16.
As for the Sparks, only Dearica Hamby and Nneka Ogwumike reached double digits in scoring aside from Burrell. Hamby tallied 16 points, while Ogwumike recorded 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Making matters worse for the Sparks, two players received technical fouls during the game, putting them in line to pay a fine to the WNBA.
Atkins received her technical foul late in the second quarter after complaining to a referee. It was her first tech of the season.
Meanwhile, the Sparks' other tech came in the fourth quarter when Ogwumike hit Liberty guard Marine Johannes in the neck area. After the play was reviewed, officials assessed Ogwumike with a technical foul. It was also her first tech of the season.
As a result, both players are now subject to a $500 fine from the WNBA. The league's rules state that a player's first three technical fouls each carry a $500 fine. Meanwhile, the fourth through seventh techs are punishable by a $1,000 fine each.
Once a player reaches eight technical fouls, they receive a $1,500 fine and a one-game suspension.
It doesn't look like Atkins and Ogwumike need to worry about reaching the technical-foul limit. They have generally done a great job avoiding the violation, and with just 11 games left in the season, it's unlikely they will accumulate more techs that would lead to a suspension.
