Mateo’s Hoop Diary: “I’m the human definition of ‘stay ready so you don’t have to get ready’”: Sims and Fever break LA’s heart

Odyssey Sims nailed a left-handed floater in the lane, lifting the Fever to their 21st win and sinking the Sparks perhaps out of the playoff race. It was her first visit back to LA against the team that waived her on July 2. Aside from the Fever exposing the paint for 52 digits, they outscored LA on second chances (16-5), on the break (13-10) and points off turnovers (23-8).

The Sparks had an early 10-point lead but that vanished quickly. The fourth quarter started with the Sparks ahead 58-57. Azura Stevens was a problem for the Fever as she barreled into the paint for two layups and downed a 3-pointer. But they keyed in on Rickea Jackson and Kelsey Plum, holding them to zero points on three second-half attempts. 

Sims totaled 21 points, including nine in the fourth quarter on runners in the lane and a wing triple, plus logged three assists and six boards. 

After the game, Sims said, “I haven’t been with the team long, but each practice, each game, [We’re] getting better. We have two other new players along with myself, so [we’re] continuing to gel, like [Boston] said… tonight wasn’t pretty, but the most important thing, we came out with the W.”

Aliyah Boston also scored six of her 22 points in the fourth quarter as the pendulum swung back and forth six times late. Notably, she missed her first five attempts but made her next 11 of 13 tries, including eight in a row between the first and third quarter.

Coach Stephanie White was pleased with her team’s defense and discipline. “The selfless nature of this group just can’t be overstated, and that’s why we are able to be in positions like this that we are able to be in.”

The Fever remain the sixth seed, three games ahead of ninth place (Sparks) and one in front of eighth (Valkyries), with five matches left on the calendar. Their games against the Sky (Sept. 5) and the Lynx (Sept. 9) will be in Indiana, but the others versus the Valkyries (Aug. 31), the Mercury (Sept. 2) and the Mystics (Sept. 7) are away.