Azurá Stevens Deserves a Damn Billboard

Sparks beat the Fever again because Rickea Jackson’s clutch gene is undefeated, Kelsey Plum is now better than Maya Moore (statistically), and Azurá is still bullying quietly.

You know that feeling when your little cousin/brother keeps trying to beat you at 2K, but every time they get close, you know you’re going to win and just hit ‘em with that Peter Griffin corner three and whisper, “Nice try”?

That’s the Sparks versus the Fever. Once again Again.

No Caitlin Clark. No Cameron Brink. No excuses.

Still, the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Indiana Fever again, 89–87 inside of Gainbridge Fieldhouse   and Azurá Stevens did it while looking like she had brunch reservations after.

Rickea Jackson hit another game-winner like it’s a side hustle.

And Kelsey Plum? She climbed another three-point shooting mountain and left Maya Moore, Arike Ogunbowale, and Renee Montgomery in the dust.

You blink, and the Sparks are laughing on the bus with another one in the win column and Indiana wondering why LA has squatters’ rights in their building.

Rickea Jackson: Clutch Like a Free Uber XL

The Fever were up 87–83 late. Crowd’s vibing. Fever fans are feeling frisky. Rickea Jackson saw the chaos and said, “I can fix that.”

And she did.

Three-point play. Short jumper. Game.

 

“We did just that,” Azurá Stevens said. “Indiana went on their runs tonight and we withstood them… we just found a way to punch right back at them. Rickea was great, coming through with that clutch and-one play… everyone played. I’m just proud of everybody.”

Rickea finished the game with one of her best performances of the WNBA season, scoring 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting and set a career high with five assists. She had the game-winner, the momentum swing, and maybe a little rose petal trail behind her the way Plum was talking.

“Shoutout to the roses,” Stevens said, “but it was a great play by Rickea.”

Damn right it was. That was a “get off my court” moment.

Azurá Stevens: Most Wanted by No One Except the Box Score

Meanwhile Azura Stevens continued her all-star campaign and had 21 points and 12 boards, her sixth double-double of the season, and only missed seven shots.

Stevens casually knocked down three threes, boxed out like a full-time bouncer, and probably filed her taxes mid-game.

 

Coach Lynne Roberts said this about Stevens “no one talks about her enough. We don’t talk about Azurá Stevens enough in the national spotlight. The season she’s having, how consistent she is, she deserves a lot more ink and recognition than she’s getting.”

Plum chimed in like the world’s most supportive podcast guest.

 

“She’s probably one of the most underrated players in our league,” Plum said. “Doesn’t get the attention she deserves… what she’s doing, the way she’s shooting, how efficient she is defensively—it’s just a nightmare for people. Z’s been super clutch all year so we’re going to continue to go to her.”

The only person quieter than Z might be a ninja on mute. But she’s got that same level of violence in her game.

KP: Chemistry Queen, Now 16th All-Time in 3s

Speaking of All-Stars, Kelsey Plum (who should be named one this week) didn’t just drop 20 points and some dagger threes—she also passed Maya Moore, Arike Ogunbowale, and Renee Montgomery on the all-time three-pointers made list. KP is now 16th, three away from surpassing Ivory Latta.

Imagine scoring more threes than Maya Moore and still being like, “We just want good shot quality.”

 

“Coach has emphasized it all year—shot quality,” Plum said. “We want everyone to be a threat. Firing on all cylinders… everyone took turns picking their spots. It was a great team win.”

And she wasn’t done preaching about vibes and energy.

 

“There was even a couple calls that didn’t go our way. We just stayed together, stayed tough. That’s a mark of a team that’s growing and chemistry is building… we’ve been in a lot of close games. I’m just really proud we responded, stayed together.”

Honestly? Fair. The Sparks shot 49.2% from the field, 45.5% from deep, and coughed up just seven turnovers, their lowest of the season.

They also got 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting from Dearica Hamby, who played like the floor was lava and only the paint could save her. Julie Allemand set a season-high with six rebounds, threw in five assists, and kept the ball bouncing like a French DJ at 2 a.m.

This team’s record? 41–16 all-time vs. Indiana. Rent’s due.

Speaking of records, Kelsey Plum owns Indiana like it’s a tax write-off. She’s got the highest win percentage vs a single team in WNBA history (min. 20 games)

The Fever? Just unpaid rent.

Stephanie White: Respectfully Annoyed

To her credit, Fever head coach Stephanie White didn’t blame the refs or the stars being out of alignment. She knew what hit her.

 

“Sometimes we have to live with the fact that great players make good plays,” White said. “But at the end of the day, we have to be more disciplined… we bailed them out by fouling.”

She saw the difference in approach, too.

“They just put their head down and attacked us,” she said. “They let the game come to them in those moments, and we felt pressed.”

Aliyah Boston had a clean look at the buzzer. She missed. Game over.

“AB had a really good look at the end… and sometimes it doesn’t just fall your way,” White said.

Sometimes it doesn’t.

Sometimes Azurá Stevens just walks into your gym and steals your lunch.