Angel Reese finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds for her rookie-record 26th double-double of the season, and the Chicago Sky snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 92-78 victory over the Sparks on Friday night.
Reese made nine of 15 shots with a three-pointer and all five of her free throws as Chicago (12-22) remained tied with the Atlanta Dream for the final spot in the postseason with six games remaining.
Chennedy Carter finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in her return for the Sky. Carter had not played since Aug. 25 because of health and safety protocols. Kamilla Cardoso totaled 12 points and nine boards.
Dearica Hamby had 21 points, five assists and four steals to lead the Sparks (7-27), who have lost three in a row and 10 of their last 11. Rookie Rickea Jackson added 17 points and six rebounds.
Jackson’s layup gave the Sparks a 19-13 lead with 2:43 left in the first quarter. Diamond DeShields and Rachel Banham hit back-to-back three-pointers to pull Chicago even. Hamby made one of two free throws with three seconds left to give the Sparks a 20-19 lead.
Banham had nine points by halftime on three-for-three shooting from beyond the arc, and Carter also scored nine to help Chicago build a 48-42 lead.
Reese took over in the third quarter, scoring 11 points to push Chicago’s lead to 75-61.
The Sparks fell to 2-16 on the road. Chicago won for just the fifth time in 17 home games. The Sky won all three matchups with the Sparks.
Up next for the Sparks: Return home to play the Connecticut Sun on Sunday.