CHICAGO — Sydney Taylor hit four three-pointers and scored 19 points, and the Chicago Sky beat the Sparks 96-82 on Friday night as Nneka Ogwumike became the Sparks’ career scoring leader.
Ogwumike finished with 18 points to give her 7,703 in her career. She had 12 rebounds, moving past Candace Parker (3,467) into third on the WNBA’s career list with 3,472.
Kamilla Cardoso had 13 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks for Chicago (7-16), which avenged a 102-77 loss at L.A. last Friday. Natasha Cloud had 15 points and nine rebounds, Jacy Sheldon added 14 points, and Azura Stevens scored 12 points.
Dearica Hamby also scored 18 points for the Sparks (10-14), and Erica Wheeler added 14. The Sparks have lost the first three games of a four-game trip and eight of their last 11 overall.
Ogwumike scored 23 points Wednesday night in a 96-87 loss at Minnesota to tie the mark of 6,263 points set by Lisa Leslie. Ogwumike hit a short jumper about three minutes into the game Friday to break the record.
Picked No. 1 overall by the Sparks in 2012, Ogwumike, 36, returned to Los Angeles this season after spending the last two with Seattle.
Kelsey Plum, the Sparks’ other All-Star, missed her eighth straight game because of a leg injury. Chicago’s Skylar Diggins (knee) missed her fifth consecutive game.
The Sparks’ trip wraps up Sunday at Dallas (16-8).
imaginima/iStock via Getty Images
Sable Offshore (SOC) plummeted 55.8% on Tuesday to an all-time low close of $3.08 after the company said it would raise $400M through stock and convertible note offerings to repay debt owed to Exxon Mobil (XOM).
The offerings follow repeated
OKLAHOMA CITY — UCLA, facing elimination in the Women’s College World Series on Friday night, erupted for nine runs in the second inning against Arkansas and rolled to an 11-0 win in five innings that ended the Razorbacks’ first appearance on college softball’s biggest stage.
The Bruins (53-9) got home runs in the inning from Aleena Garcia, Soo-Jin Berry and Megan Grant — her 42nd of the season and the 91st of her career, a program record. Kaniya Bragg homered to right field in the top of the fifth to make it 11-0.
The Razorbacks (47-13) were limited to three hits in five innings by UCLA starter Taylor Tinsley.
UCLA will play another elimination game at 4 p.m. PT Sunday when the Bruins face either Texas Tech, the defending national runner-up, or Tennessee.
Arkansas starter Payton Burnham didn’t last long against UCLA’s powerful lineup.
Garcia homered to lead off the second. Burnham hit Bragg with a pitch, Alexis Ramirez singled, and Berry launched a homer to left field to make it 4-0.
Saylor Timmerman replaced Burnham and walked Jolyna Lamar and Rylee Slimp before Grant crushed a 260-foot no-doubter that hit a metal fence beyond the wall in left-center field.
Having arrived an hour later than the champion to the venue because of Manchester traffic, Dubois made a brisk, business-like ringwalk.
Wardley, in his first appearance since being upgraded to world champion, soaked in the atmosphere with a leisurely entrance. Draped in an Ipswich Town Football Club robe, he was greeted by a warm reception from the 18,000-strong crowd.
With a combined record of 42 wins – 40 coming by knockout – there was palpable anticipation inside the arena, and Wardley stayed true to his promise to bring the action early as Dubois immediately hit the canvas after a flush right hand.
Dubois winked to his corner but looked shell-shocked. He wrestled Wardley to the ground as both fighters swung for the hills.
Many expected Dubois to impose himself early before Wardley could settle. Considered the better technical boxer, he regrouped and landed a right in the second.
Momentum swung again in the third when Wardley, who looked sharp with his overhand right and uppercuts, sent Dubois wobbling. Dubois took a knee and survived the count before firing back with a right hand that rocked Wardley.
The fighters and fans struggled to catch a breath as trainer Don Charles urged Dubois to lean on his jab, and he followed that instruction to take control of proceedings.
Dubois’ left eye was swollen, but Wardley’s face looked a mess as Dubois set up his attacks with a left jab before landing his biggest shots in the fourth and the sixth.
Wardley, who was working in recruitment a decade ago, showed an extraordinary chin and heart as he refused to go down despite his legs trembling and blood pouring down his face.
Most would likely have been withdrawn by their corner, but Wardley has built a reputation on dramatic comebacks. This time, however, it felt different.
The doctor inspected Wardley’s injuries before the eighth round and allowed him to continue.
By the ninth, the referee looked ready to intervene as Wardley continued to absorb heavy punishment and the contest became increasingly difficult to watch.
Doctors again allowed Wardley to continue before the 10th and when the stoppage finally arrived in the 11th, there was almost a sense of relief.
A sensational fight had reached its conclusion.
Warren – a veteran of 45 years in the sport – described it as “the best heavyweight fight” he has ever promoted.