Angel Reese hauled in 26 rebounds Monday night, leading the Atlanta Dream to a 78-71 win over the Los Angeles Sparks — despite a 27-point, 16-rebound double-double from LA star Nneka Ogwumike.
Reese's performance broke WNBA legend Chamique Holdsclaw's single-game record of 24, which had stood since 2003.
Angel Reese's History-Making Night Ends in Atlanta Win
Beyond the single-game mark, Reese also pushed her season total to 458. That tally passed A'ja Wilson's 2024 record of 451 rebounds with six regular-season games still to play. She added 11 points for her 27th double-double of the year.
"I just want to be there for my team," Reese said of her historic performance. "Offensively, defensively, whatever it takes to win."
Dream vs Sparks Result Reshapes Postseason Standings
Nneka Ogwumike fueled her side's push to prevent that win, leading LA with 27 points and 16 rebounds. But it wasn't enough to slow the Dream down the stretch. Allisha Gray scored 20 for Atlanta, and Rhyne Howard chipped in 18 to seal the series sweep.
The victory improved Atlanta's record to 25-13 and marked its ninth straight win over the Sparks. With the 2026 postseason looming, Reese is averaging 12.0 rebounds per game, and her grip on the glass shows no sign of loosening.
15-year WNBA vet Nneka Ogwumike is calling it a career. The LA Sparks forward and WNBPA president announced she’ll retire from basketball at the end of 2026.
The 11-time All-Star exits with the 2016 WNBA title and MVP award, 2012 Rookie of the Year award, and four Defensive First Team nods, after playing 13 of her 15 seasons — including her final — in Los Angeles.
“I’ve learned there’s power in knowing when to walk away,” Ogwumike told Boardroom. “For so long, that strength meant finding a way to keep pushing. Now, it means recognizing when you feel complete.”
An undisputed legend on the court, Ogwumike’s legacy has also been shaped by the two CBAs she negotiated during her 10-year players union tenure.
She was instrumental in achieving the single largest salary increase in pro sports history earlier this year. The CBA also expanded benefits and resources.
“Her leadership has been extraordinary,” said WNBPA Executive Director Terri Jackson. “She has served this union with a level of commitment, courage, integrity, and purpose that is truly unparalleled.”
The Sparks vs Sun matchup on Tuesday night came down to Connecticut's third-quarter dominance. Despite Rae Burrell leading Los Angeles with 19 points, the Sun squeezed out a 85-77 win at Boston's TD Garden, stretching the Sparks' losing streak to six straight games.
Sparks Suffer Early Deficit Against Sun at TD Garden
The Sun pulled away in the midway through the contest with an 8-0 run as Olivia Nelson-Ododa capped the sequence with a three-point play. Then Kennedy Burke hit a 3-pointer, and Diamond Miller added a layup that forced a Sparks timeout.
Nneka Ogwumike posted 18 points and seven rebounds for Los Angeles while Dearica Hamby chipped in 15. Still, the frontline trio couldn't offset a balanced Connecticut attack.
Nelson-Ododa finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season. Burke went 3-for-4 from deep on the way to 17 points. Leila Lacan matched a season high with 10 assists, and Saniya Rivers added 11 off the bench.
The TD Garden date marked the third straight year the Sun have played a game in Boston, before relocating to Houston for the 2027 season.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, returns home for their next match against the Atlanta Dream on Thursday at 10 PM ET on Prime.
The Valkyries vs Sparks matchup Sunday at Crypto.com Arena went to Golden State, who held off a late LA rally to win 84-78.
Cecilia Zandalasini set the tone early, going 5-for-5 from deep to stake the Valkyries to a 14-point first-quarter lead. Down the stretch, Tiffany Hayes and Janelle Salaun buried timely 3-pointers, and Kayla Thornton iced it at the line after being fouled.
Los Angeles nearly stole it anyway.
Valkyries vs Sparks Decided in 4th Quarter Battle
Rae Burrell went scoreless through three quarters. Then, in the fourth, she scored nine points to fuel a run that cut a double-digit deficit to one. But the Sparks couldn't get the last shots to fall.
Nneka Ogwumike led LA with 16 points, Erica Wheeler added 15, and Cameron Brink chipped in seven points and seven rebounds.
Golden State Valkyries Coach Credit Benched Kate Martin with LA Sparks' Performance
After the game, Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase turned attention to a familiar face on the opposing bench. Despite guard Kate Martin not suiting up for the game, Nakase praised her former player.
"She's a special human being, and you can tell LA has definitely been affected by her," Nakase said. "You could see the caring and the joking and the laughing. And that's what we miss. We miss that energy from Kate and all the love and care that she pours into her teammates."
Golden State (23-9) has now won four straight. Los Angeles (12-19), meanwhile, faces the Phoenix Mercury and former Sparks star Kelsey Plum on Tuesday at 10 PM ET on NBA TV.
LA Sparks veteran Nneka Ogwumike will officially attend her 11th WNBA All-Star Game later this month. The forward heard her name called alongside 12 other standouts on Tuesday as coaches made their reserve selections following last week’s starters announcement.
Joining Ogwumike in the frontcourt are Liberty center Jonquel Jones, Mystics forward Kiki Iriafen, Seattle forward Dominique Malonga, and Atlanta’s Angel Reese.
The backcourt reserve selections include Mystics guard Sonia Citron, Atlanta’s Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard, Toronto’s Marina Mabrey, LA’s Kelsey Plum, Minnesota’s Courtney Williams, and Las Vegas’s Jackie Young.
Kelsey Plum's WNBA All-Star Status Still Up in the Air
Plum is still nursing a lower leg injury that has seen her out since late June. A potential return for July’s All-Star Game is a possibility at this point, but not a guarantee.
Should Plum not return in time, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert can announce an injury replacement as more players just left off the list are waiting in the wings.
The recently selected reserves join an announced starting lineup that includes Indiana Fever trio Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell. Las Vegas Aces MVP A'ja Wilson and 2025 Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers also made the list.
Nneka Ogwumike drained a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to lift LA past New York 98-97 on Sunday, completing a 17-point Liberty vs Sparks comeback in front of the home crowd.
With eight seconds left and LA trailing by two, Erica Wheeler drove down the court and kicked the ball out to Ogwumike beyond the arc. The WNBA veteran released the shot, which subsequently splashed through as time expired.
The Liberty controlled most of the game after the first quarter, building a 17-point lead in the third. The Sparks chased them down in the fourth, with Ogwumike scoring eight of her 24 points in the final two minutes.
Before the game-winner, Breanna Stewart missed one of two free-throws to leave the door open. Ogwumike walked through it.
"It's Nneka, man. She's going to be [in the] Hall of Fame. She's presidential. I knew it was going in, man," Wheeler said postgame.
The Liberty vs Sparks matchup headlined the WNBA's 30th anniversary celebration. Sunday also marked a "Court Origins" night honoring the league's original franchises, with legends Lisa Leslie and Kym Hampton in attendance.
Ogwumike led all scorers with 24 points, while Rae Burrell added 19 off the bench. The Sparks are now 8-for-8 on the season.
Nneka Ogwumike posted 24 points and nine rebounds in her first game back in Seattle since leaving the Storm in the offseason.
The veteran forward carried the LA Sparks to an 88-83 road win on Wednesday, emerging triumphant from the Sparks vs Storm Commissioner's Cup matchup while extending LA's head-to-head winning streak over Seattle to seven games.
Kelsey Plum Double-Double Provides Spark Despite Cold Shooting
Despite the final margin, LA shot under 39% from the floor. However, the Sparks were able to control the game on the glass and in ball security. The team held a 13-5 edge in offensive rebounds and committed just nine turnovers to Seattle's 15, giving them 11 more shot attempts overall.
Fresh off a mid-season ankle injury, Kelsey Plum added a double-double with 19 points, 11 assists, and four steals.
Meanwhile, Sparks forward Cameron Brink chipped in 15 points, six boards, and two blocks to keep LA firmly in the driver's seat.
The Storm fought back as guard Natisha Hiedeman led with a team-high 16 points. But turnovers and a lack of second-chance opportunities kept Seattle from pulling ahead.
Hiedeman's potential game-tying three missed with 12 seconds left, giving Sparks guard Erica Wheeler room to seal LA's win at the line.
With the result, the Sparks even their record at 6-6 as Seattle falls to 3-11.
Where to Watch WNBA Commissioner's Cup Games This Week
Seattle next hosts the Golden State Valkyries tomorrow night at 10 PM ET, live on ION.
LA, meanwhile, now heads to Phoenix to take on the Mercury on Saturday at 10 PM ET, live on WNBA League Pass.
LA faces its first WNBA competition on Sunday, taking on expansion side Portland after cruising past Nigeria 89-63 last weekend — giving the Sparks one more look at its revamped lineup before regular-season tipoff.
An ambitious offseason saw LA retain star guard Kelsey Plum, bring back former MVP Nneka Ogwumike, and trade young guard Rickea Jackson for 2019 WNBA champion Ariel Atkins, signaling a win-now mentality.
Carrying a veteran load, the Sparks’ young core will likely face scrutiny this season, as 2026 second-round pick Ta’Niya Latson fights for a roster spot while 2024 No. 2 pick Cameron Brink shakes off injuries that stalled her early career.
“This offseason has been about basketball for [Brink]. It’s not been about her hamstring, quad strength, and her mobility,” said LA Sparks GM Raegan Pebley. “It’s great to see Cam come into year three confident and without so much noise.”
“I think my motto this year is just to play basketball,” echoed Brink. “Just to hoop and keep it simple.”
How to Watch LA Sparks vs. Portland Fire WNBA Preseason Game
The Sparks face the Fire on Sunday at 7 PM ET, live on WNBA League Pass.
Ta'Niya Latson wasn't selected as high as many expected in the 2026 WNBA Draft — but she still walked away with strong support from one of the league's most respected voices.
The former South Carolina guard fell to No. 20 overall, where the Los Angeles Sparks selected her in the second round. The pick marked a notable slide from earlier projections that had Latson going higher in the night's opening round.
Draft Night didn't unfold as expected — something Latson acknowledged herself.
“It was shocking to everybody; I mean, I was kind of shocked,” she said. “It’s about fit, I feel like. Fit over pick. I flipped my mentality immediately when I found out I was going to LA.”
Even so, her value hasn't gone unnoticed.
Longtime Sparks icon and future Hall of Famer Nneka Ogwumike praised Latson during her own (re)introductory press conference.
“I absolutely love her,” Ogwumike said Monday. “I think she is the biggest steal [in the WNBA draft] this year. You can tell who's somebody that's locked in. She is someone who does not like to lose, and she's quite mature for her age.”
Latson entered the draft after a standout season at South Carolina, where she adjusted her role on a loaded roster. After finishing 2024/25 at Florida State as DI basketball's leading scorer, she transfered to a more balanced system under coach Dawn Staley. There, she showed she could contribute beyond just putting up points.
And that versatility subsequently helped shape her fit in Los Angeles.
The Sparks are currently rebuilding, and Latson arrives with proven scoring instincts and heightened adaptability to different roles and systems.
With veteran support and clear opportunity ahead, Latson enters the WNBA with both motivation and belief. And the combination that could quickly redefine how the league's remembers her selection.
WNBA free agency officially opened Monday, with the Washington Mystics making a major front-office change just one day before teams begin contract negotiations.
The Mystics parted ways with general manager Jamila Wideman after one season on the job. ESPN reported the split stemmed from strategic differences with Monumental president of basketball Michael Winger, who made the decision on the opening day of free agency.
Coach Sydney Johnson will assume control of basketball operations as the team moves forward without a GM. Johnson is entering his second season with Washington, after earning praise for his player development work during last season's 16-28 WNBA run.
Wideman joined the DC franchise in December 2024 after spending six years with the NBA.
The Mystics are continuing to build around their young core — namely All-Star rookie duo Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen. The team is also anticipating three first-round 2026 WNBA Draft picks.
Rumors Swirl as WNBA Free Agency Heats Up
Teams have already extended qualifying offers and designated core players. Contract negotiations begin Wednesday with signings due by Saturday, creating a compressed three-day window for deal-making.
While franchise players Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, and A'ja Wilson announced they plan to stay with their current teams, many other prominent names could change jerseys this week.
WNBA vets Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins reportedly plan to leave Seattle, after the Storm fired coach Noelle Quinn following last season's first-round playoff exit.