Sparks can’t stop Atlanta Dream’s late run and season opener

No one moved for the first three quarters. The Sparks went on a run, the Atlanta Dream responded with one of their own and vice versa. They were deadlocked at 66 at the start of the fourth quarter, giving the other no room to maneuver. Then the fourth quarter came.

Cheyenne Parker-Tyus and Crystal Dangerfield made back-to-back layups to open the fourth. Then Rhyne Howard got a few free throws and followed them with a three. All of a sudden, the Dreams were up by double digits before the Sparks scored in the final period.

There were moments of life, a huge three-pointer from rookie Cameron Brink to bring the Sparks within six minutes remaining, but that was as close as it got. The Dream held on for a 92-81 victory over the Sparks in the season opener played at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach. The venue seats 5,000 people and the Sparks announced the contest was a sellout.

Dearica Hamby led the young Sparks with 20 points and 14 rebounds, while point guard Layshia Clarendon finished with a first career triple-double – 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

Brink finished with 11 points, four assists and two blocks in her WNBA debut, but early foul trouble limited her impact. On the game’s second possession, Brink found Clarendon, who made a three-pointer for the Sparks’ first points of 2024. Brink then cut inside to get an easy layup for his first pro points. The hot start propelled the Sparks to a quick 9-2 lead.

However, Brink quickly ran into foul trouble afterward and the Dream took advantage of his absence in the paint to tie the game late in the first quarter.

Rhyne Howard (25 points) and Tina Charles (21 points) were key leaders for Atlanta.

Despite all the hype that accompanies the Sparks’ first two draft picks, Sparks coach Curt Miller said the young, often overlooked team is still working to establish itself.

“We have to keep building for these 40 games,” he said before the match. “It’s not easy to put together all the packages you want in 11 days for a 40-game season, but we like where we are in terms of chemistry.”

Whatever work the Sparks have left to do, it won’t get any easier from here as they head to the desert on Saturday to take on the defending champion Las Vegas Aces.