LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The Los Angeles Sparks fell just short Thursday night, losing 76-75 to the Golden State Valkyries at Crypto.com Arena in the final game of the 2026 season — and the final game of Nneka Ogwumike’s WNBA career.
The Sparks held a 69-57 lead with 4:42 remaining, appearing poised to close out the season with a victory. Instead, Golden State stormed back with a 17-4 run to close the game, completing its largest comeback in franchise history and securing the No. 2 seed in the WNBA playoffs.
In her final WNBA game, Ogwumike finished with 17 points, 15 rebounds and five assists, recording her 19th double-double of the season and the 134th of her career. She finished her 15-year career ranked sixth in WNBA history with 134 double-doubles. Ogwumike was aggressive from the opening minutes, scoring six of Los Angeles’ first eight points before reaching double figures in the second quarter. She entered halftime with 12 points and helped the Sparks build a 35-26 advantage.
Dearica Hamby and Rae Burrell each added 15 points for Los Angeles. Hamby returned to the lineup after missing the previous game, while Burrell provided a spark from beyond the arc as the Sparks built their largest lead of the night at 16 points.
Los Angeles carried a 55-46 lead into the fourth quarter and extended the advantage to 12 with just over four minutes remaining. But the Sparks were unable to close the game, going without a field goal for more than four minutes as Golden State began its comeback.
Kaitlyn Chen took over for the Valkyries in the fourth, scoring 14 of her 18 points in the final period. Gabby Williams added eight points in the final 90 seconds, including a three-pointer with 20.4 seconds remaining that gave Golden State a 73-72 lead.
After the Sparks missed two opportunities to regain the lead, Golden State extended its advantage at the free-throw line. Rae Burrell hit a three-pointer at the buzzer, but it came too late to change the result.
Beyond the final score, Thursday night marked the conclusion of one of the most accomplished careers in WNBA history.
Ogwumike’s final stat line added another double-double to a career that included an MVP award, a WNBA championship, 11 All-Star selections and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 WNBA Draft. She finished her career among the league’s all-time leaders in rebounds, points and steals.
The Sparks had announced Ogwumike’s retirement on August 19, making Thursday’s matchup an emotional farewell for the longtime Los Angeles star. After 15 seasons in the WNBA, including her first 12 seasons with the Sparks, Ogwumike walked off the court for the final time as a professional player.
The Sparks finish the 2026 season with a 16-28 record, while the Valkyries finish 32-12 and move on to the playoffs as the No. 2 seed.
For Los Angeles, the season ends in a heartbreaking loss. But for Ogwumike, the night marked the final chapter of a remarkable career — one that leaves an enduring mark on the Sparks and the WNBA.
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