The Fever needed the win, and not simply because of the tightening playoff race. The Sparks had owned them all season: three meetings, three losses, each a veritable test they could not pass. The other day, however, they finally managed to flip the script — and at Crypto.com Arena to boot. By prevailing 76-75 on the road, they did more than keep their place in league standings; they proved they had the mettle to overcome physical and mental adversity against tough opposition.
As expected, All-Star Aliyah Boston led the charge; her 22 points and 11 rebounds underscored her steadiness, but most notable were her six steals — culminating in the decisive swipe in the dying seconds — that gave the Fever their breakthrough. The Sparks still had a chance to sweep the series, but her final act made sure the outcome was theirs to celebrate. Against competition that had underscored their struggles amid a cacophony of injuries, she imposed herself on both ends, and her teammates followed.
Significantly, Odyssey Sims was likewise instrumental in victory. Once with the Sparks, she relished the opportunity to show she deserved a full-fledged roster spot after two hardship contracts. And she made the most of her chances: 21 markers capped by the go-ahead floater with 13.6 seconds remaining. Given the closeness of the set-to, the Fever clearly needed the composure she supplied in the crunch. More than just putting the red, blue, and gold ahead, the basket highlighted what had been missing in earlier encounters: a guard willing to seize the moment and dictate the finish.
In contrast, the Sparks stumbled precisely when the moment called for precision. Top scorer Azura Stevens split her free throws with 34 seconds left, leaving the door open for a triumph. Unfortunately, they then botched an inbounds play, coughing up a fatal turnover, their 23rd; they never managed a final attempt after Boston’s swipe. It was a collapse that hurt them twice over, costing them the contest and dimming their playoff hopes. At 17-20, they sit ninth, two games behind the Valkyries for the final spot with only seven left to play. Meanwhile, the Fever, now 21-18, moved into sixth, half a game ahead of the highly touted Storm.
Needless to say, the result represents progress for the otherwise-snakebitten Fever. And, yes, breaking through against the Sparks in late August may yet be just as critical for them as where they ultimately finish in league standings. To win at all is necessary; to win in this way — over opponents that had hitherto defined their struggle and in an encounter that went down the wire — signals their desire to shape their future in their own terms.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
