Erica Wheeler caught fire from beyond the arc, hitting three triples on her way to 15 points as the Los Angeles Sparks took a 53-48 lead over the Chicago Sky into halftime.
What happened
Wheeler paced Los Angeles with 15 points, four assists and three made three-pointers in the first half. Ariel Atkins added 11 points, three assists and two steals, while Jacy Sheldon chipped in 10 points and two steals. Gabriela Jaquez rounded out the scoring with nine points and three rebounds as the Sparks built their five-point cushion.
Why it matters
Los Angeles enters the matchup at 11-11, riding a one-game winning streak, while Chicago sits at 7-16 despite also carrying a one-game streak into the contest. Wheeler's three triples continue a recent stretch of perimeter shooting that has become a key factor in the Sparks' offensive output.
By the numbers
Los Angeles is averaging 88.3 points per game while allowing 91.3 this season. Chicago is averaging 86.6 points per game while allowing 89.6. The first-half scoring reflects both teams playing close to their season norms, with the Sparks' perimeter shooting providing the difference.
What to watch next
The second half airs on ION, with Wheeler's hot shooting and the Sparks' five-point cushion the storylines to track as Chicago looks to erase the deficit.