Sparks can’t survive Rickea Jackson’s ejection, drop home finale to Mercury
Jackson gets ejected following an altercation with Phoenix’s Brittney Griner late in the first half, and the visitors take control with a 19-2 run as the Sparks commit 20 turnovers in their eighth consecutive loss, 85-81
Sparks head coach Curt Miller reacts on the sidelines during the first half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sparks center Li Yueru passes the ball as Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner drives to the basket against Sparks center Li Yueru during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner drives to the basket as Sparks forward Dearica Hamby defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner looks on during the first half of their game against the Sparks on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Injured Sparks rookie Cameron Brink, center, watches from the bench during the first half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi drives to the basket between Sparks forward Dearica Hamby, left, and forward Azura Stevens during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sparks head coach Curt Miller reacts on the sidelines during the first half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner blocks a shot by Sparks guard Kia Nurse (10) during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi looks on during the first half of their game against the Sparks on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Phoenix Mercury guard Natasha Cloud shoots during the first half of their game against the Sparks on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts looks on from the sidelines during the first half of their game against the Sparks on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi, left, talks with with center Brittney Griner on the bench during the first half of their game against the Sparks on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sparks forward Azura Stevens (23) looks to pass the ball as Phoenix Mercury forward Monique Billings, left, and forward Natasha Mack, right, defend during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi drives to the basket against the Sparks’ Crystal Dangerfield during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Injured Sparks rookie Cameron Brink, center, applauds from the bench during the first half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sparks forward Rickea Jackson shoots during the first half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sparks forward Dearica Hamby, left, shoots as Phoenix Mercury forward Monique Billings defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Phoenix Mercury forward Natasha Mack drives to the basket against Sparks center Li Yueru during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts looks on from the sidelines during the first half of their game against the Sparks on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner shoots as Sparks center Li Yueru defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner drives to the basket as Sparks forward Dearica Hamby defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sparks forward Azura Stevens, left, grabs a rebound in front of the Phoenix Mercury’s Monique Billings during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sparks forward Azura Stevens, center, reacts after a call by the officials during the first half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Phoenix Mercury forward Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, right, and Sparks guard Kia Nurse reach for a loose ball during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi, right, celebrates with teammate Natasha Cloud (0) after scoring during the second half of their game against the Sparks on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sparks head coach Curt Miller reacts on the sidelines during the first half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Phoenix Mercury forward Monique Billings, front, is fouled by Sparks center Li Yueru, top, during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi reacts toward the officials during the second half of their game against the Sparks on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
in the second half of a WNBA basketball game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)
Sparks guard Kia Nurse, center, reaches for the loose ball against Phoenix Mercury guard Amy Atwell, left, during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sparks forward Stephanie Talbot, left, fouls Phoenix Mercury guard Natasha Cloud during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sparks guard Zia Cooke drives to the basket as Phoenix Mercury guard Natasha Cloud, left, and guard Sophie Cunningham , right, defend during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Phoenix Mercury forward Monique Billings, front, is fouled by Sparks center Li Yueru, left, during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Phoenix Mercury forward Monique Billings, front left, is fouled by Sparks center Li Yueru, top left, during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sparks players watch from the bench late in the second half of their loss to the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sparks guard Kia Nurse, right, and Phoenix Mercury guard Amy Atwell reach for a loose ball during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Phoenix Mercury guard Sophie Cunningham celebrates after scoring as Sparks guard Zia Cooke, back, looks on during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sparks guard Rae Burrell loses control of the ball during the second half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sparks forward Dearica Hamby looks on during a pause in play in the second half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sparks center Li Yueru loses the ball as she falls to the court during the second half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sparks center Li Yueru loses the ball as she falls to the court during the second half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sparks head coach Curt Miller, center, and his staff watch from the bench during the second half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sparks guard Zia Cooke drives to the basket during the second half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Actor/comedian Leslie Jones reacts on the sidelines during the second half of the Sparks’ game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi drives to the basket as the Sparks’ Crystal Dangerfield defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sparks forward Dearica Hamby shoots in front of Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi, right, during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sparks guard Zia Cooke drives to the basket as Phoenix Mercury guard Natasha Cloud defends during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sparks forward Azura Stevens grabs a rebound over Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sparks guard Zia Cooke drives to the basket as Phoenix Mercury guard Natasha Cloud (0) defends during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sparks center Li Yueru looks to shoot during the first half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Sparks’ Azura Stevens takes a shot as the Phoenix Mercury’s Natasha Mack, left, and Monique Billings defend during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Sparks guard Rae Burrell handles the ball as the Phoenix Mercury’s Natasha Cloud, left, defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Sparks forward Dearica Hamby handles the ball as the Phoenix Mercury’s Natasha Mack defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Sparks forward Dearica Hamby looks for a shot as Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Injured Sparks rookie Cameron Brink, center, reacts on the bench during the first half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner holds the ball during the first half of their game against the Sparks on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Sparks’ Odyssey Sims handles the ball during the first half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner gestures during the first half of their game against the Sparks on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Sparks’ Azura Stevens handles the ball as the Phoenix Mercury’s Natasha Cloud defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Sparks’ Azura Stevens handles the ball as the Phoenix Mercury’s Natasha Cloud defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Sparks’ Azura Stevens handles the ball during the first half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Sparks’ Stephanie Talbot passes the ball as the Phoenix Mercury’s Diana Taurasi, right, defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Sparks head coach Curt Miller gestures from the sideline during the first half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Sparks’ Crystal Dangerfield takes a 3-point shot during the first half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Sparks center Li Yueru drives through traffic during the first half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Sparks center Li Yueru takes a shot during the first half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Sparks’ Crystal Dangerfield gets to the basket for a layup during the first half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Sparks forward Dearica Hamby handles the ball during the first half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Sparks guard Rae Burrell tries to get control of the ball in traffic during the first half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Sparks guard Kia Nurse takes a shot from outside during the first half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Sparks’ Azura Stevens takes a shot as the Phoenix Mercury’s Natasha Mack, left, and Monique Billings defend during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Sparks guard Rae Burrell looks to shoot in the lane during the first half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Sparks guard Rae Burrell takes a shot during the first half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Sparks forward Dearica Hamby handles the ball as the Phoenix Mercury’s Natasha Mack defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Sparks guard Rae Burrell handles the ball as the Phoenix Mercury’s Natasha Cloud defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Sparks guard Rae Burrell handles the ball as the Phoenix Mercury’s Natasha Cloud defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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Sparks head coach Curt Miller reacts on the sidelines during the first half of their game against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)
LOS ANGELES — Whether she meant to or not, Rickea Jackson tested a historically controversial theory on Tuesday night. The idea being, that if a newcomer challenges the most imposing figure in the group, they will gain the rest of the pack’s respect.
With 18 seconds remaining in the second quarter, 6-foot-9 Brittney Griner’s elbow caught Jackson’s upper body. The two then stood an arm’s length apart, jawing, before Griner lifted her right arm and Jackson swatted it away. Shoves were exchanged. Jackson, hands held high like a prize fighter on the defense, began to retreat as her veteran teammate Dearica Hamby played peacemaker.
Dearica Hamby with the quick reaction time.
Rookie Rickea Jackson has been ejected with 18.8 seconds to play before halftime — here at Crypto, we were just noting that she'd played every second so far.
— Mirjam Swanson (@MirjamSwanson)
Jackson’s backpedal wasn’t a sign that she feared Griner, nor that she regretted showing her colors as a gritty player, rather in that moment, she suddenly realized that she didn’t need to come at the league’s most lauded enforcer to earn her peers’ reverance. She has already done that with her consistent improvement this season. When she got caught up in the heat of that fracas, she lost the chance to show that once again.
The fourth overall pick and the Mercury’s three-time Olympic gold medalist were both ejected.
“I told her to hang in there,” said Sparks head coach Curt Miller, who acknowledged during his postgame press conference that he had yet to see a replay of the scuffle.
With Jackson gone, the Sparks lost their calm, and with it, conceded a 19-2 run. They committed 20 turnovers, their sloppiness overshadowing Li Yueru’s career-high 19-point performance. The Mercury (19-20) scored 31 points off turnovers and handed the Sparks (7-32) an 85-81 loss – their eighth straight – in their final home game of the season.
The Mercury’s plan was to muck up the game from the outset, to make the young Sparks uncomfortable with quirky defensive looks. They played more zone, Miller said, than the Sparks had seen in the last 2½ months.
“To their credit, they made the game really ugly,” Miller said. “I didn’t think that the first unit shared the ball particularly well. I thought it was sticking.”
He subbed in Yueru and Crystal Dangerfield at the 4-minute mark of the first quarter. Those two, and Jackson, played the remainder of the half – apart from those final 18 seconds – and they found chinks in the zone.
Yueru stretched the court, knocking down a 3-pointer from the left wing and then an 18-footer. Her presence deterred Griner from crashing the offensive boards as she grabbed 12 rebounds to record her first double-double on a night in which the Sparks grabbed a season-high 49 boards. With four minutes left in the second quarter, she outlet a defensive rebound to Dangerfield, who found Hamby (team-high 21 points) for a transition layup.
“She gave us a presence on both sides,” Miller said of Yueru’s performance. “We really needed her.”
The Sparks’ reserves provided a 47-26 scoring advantage.
With the Sparks leading by nine, the Mercury pressed full-court. Dangerfield lofted a desperate pass over Griner to Hamby, who found Zia Cooke for a 3-pointer. The Sparks handled that early pressure as Cooke knocked down two more 3-pointers to put the Sparks ahead 34-25.
Before leaving the game, Jackson scored eight points and was just 2 for 11 from the field, but was a plus-7. Her composure, a key factor in the Sparks building their lead. When she and Griner parted the game, it seemed the Mercury had a contingency plan, while the Sparks collapsed.
“They scrambled around and pressed without B.G.,” Miller said.
Despite playing just 14 minutes, Griner tied Sophie Cunningham for a team-high 14 points, shooting 7 for 8 from the field, but for all her positives, Griner lacks nimbleness.
Most of the rest of the Mercury players have it.
Their press became more effective. With Griner out and a smaller unit in, the Mercury turned the Sparks over 10 times in the third quarter. Cunningham picked Azura Stevens’ pocket to give Phoenix its first lead since the 2:27 mark of the first. In the half-court, Diana Taurasi picked apart the Sparks’ defense, scoring 10 points in the period.
“She has meant so much to this league,” Miller said about Taurasi, as speculation about the 42-year-old’s possible retirement continues. “She continues to play at an extremely high level, and is one of the torch bearers for our league.”
Jackson, sure could have learned a thing or two from guarding Taurasi, who Miller referred to as the G.O.A.T on multiple occasions, if she hadn’t been kicked.
The rookie learned a multitude of lessons on Tuesday night.
It’s not that she shouldn’t test veterans in this league, or react accordingly when Griner gets in her face. It’s that, to compete in the waning moments of games, the Sparks desperately need her presence.
Instead, the defense of Clarese Taylor, who had five steals, and Natasha Cloud, who turned an errant pass from Dangerfield into a fast-break layup with 4:27 remaining, controlled the outcome. Cunningham hit a 3-pointer to extend Phoenix’s lead to 79-66.
Hamby scored five points as the Sparks mounted an 8-0 run to cut the margin to five with two minutes left before Mikiah Herbert Harrigan answered with a pull-up from the left wing for the dagger.
The Sparks, yet, again blew a sturdy lead. It’s easy to wonder if the minimal margin of defeat could have been avoided altogether had Jackson been available.