Sparks rally falls short after trailing Liberty by 28 points

On August 13, 2026, the Los Angeles Sparks lost to the New York Liberty 85-81 at Barclays Center after mounting an impressive comeback. The Sparks trailed by 28 points entering the fourth quarter but managed to cut the deficit to just one point. Rae Burrell scored a career-high 28 points, including 20 in the fourth, and the Sparks outscored the Liberty 40-18 in that period. Despite their efforts, Ariel Atkins' missed three-pointer at the end sealed the loss for the Sparks. Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu led her team with 20 points, and Jonquel Jones contributed 11 points and 18 rebounds.

• 3:04 AMYahoo Sports — Sparks rally falls short from 28 down in the fourth against Liberty