LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nneka Ogwumike had season highs of 25 points and 12 rebounds and Candace Parker added 23 points and 10 rebounds to help the Los Angeles Sparks defeat the Phoenix Mercury 90-74 on Friday night.
The Sparks (5-1) have won four straight and are off to their best start since 2003. The 16-point victory was their largest of the season.
Parker recorded her fourth straight double-double and matched a season-high with four assists.
DeLisha Milton-Jones scored 12 of her 21 points in the second half and completed a three-point play after Phoenix climbed back to seven points down with 6:30 remaining.
The Mercury (2-5) have only beaten Tulsa twice this season while all five losses are by double digits. Phoenix is 1-4 without Diana Taurasi, the former MVP who is out indefinitely with a left hip flexor strain.
Charde Houston led Phoenix with 22 points and made four of five 3-point attempts.
