LOS ANGELES — Kaitlyn Chen scored 14 of her 18 points in the fourth quarter, Gabby Williams added eight points in the final 90 seconds, and the Golden State Valkyries closed on a 17-4 run to beat the Los Angeles Sparks 76-75 on Thursday night in the final game for former WNBA MVP Nneka Ogwumike.
Golden State (32-11) secured the No. 2 seed in the WNBA playoffs and will face seventh-seeded Dallas in a first-round series beginning on Sunday.
Ogwumike had 17 points, 15 rebounds and five assists for Los Angeles (16-27) in the final game of her 15-year career. Ogwumike, who announced on Aug. 19 she would retire after this season, recorded her 19th double-double of the season — and 134th of her career to rank sixth in league history.
Dearica Hamby and Rae Burrell each scored 15 for Los Angeles.
Los Angeles had a 69-57 lead with 4:42 left, but did not make another field goal until the final second.
Williams took over down the stretch. She sank a long three-pointer with 1:30 remaining and stole the ball at the other end before racing for a fast-break layup to get within 72-70. After a miss by Los Angeles, Williams made a three-pointer with 20.4 seconds left to go ahead 73-72.
The Sparks had two chances on their next possession before Kiah Stokes secured the defensive rebound. Los Angeles coach Lynne Roberts was called for a technical foul with 10.8 seconds left and Kayla Thornton made the free throw for a 74-72 lead. Thornton added two more free throws with 8.5 left for a 76-72 lead.
Williams finished with 14 points in just 20 minutes for Golden State. Veronica Burton added 17.
Up next
Valkyries: Look to improve to 4-0 this season against the Wings on Sunday.
Sparks: Season is over.
