LOS ANGELES — Sparks forward Chiney Ogwumike understands the up and downs of the WNBA season.
However, when the 40-game regular season is all said and done, Ogwumike believes wholeheartedly that the shorthanded Sparks will be a playoff team.
“Absolutely,” Ogwumike said. “I think some people might be like, ‘What?’ But we are missing Lexie (Brown), we’re missing Layshia (Clarendon), but we’re also finding some amazing things along the way. Friday night was (Destanni Henderson’s) Henny’s night.”
Through grace and perseverance, Ogwumike, a two-time All-Star and No. 1 pick in the 2014 WNBA draft, suspects the Sparks have turned the corner after a three-game losing streak and are trending in the right direction.
“This is a long season and we know that we’re missing pieces, a lot of things are changing, but one thing that we know is that we can compete,” Ogwumike said. “We can be our best selves and we can be patient with ourselves. And as we’re patient with ourselves, we’re pursuing team basketball.”
Ogwumike, 31, averaged 12.8 points and 5.3 rebounds as a starter in her first four games this season, which was her best start to a season since being acquired by the Sparks from the Connecticut Sun in 2019.
In fact, the 6-foot-3 post player scored 15 or more points in three of those first four games. However, over a nearly two-week span, Ogwumike missed five games with a foot injury. Since returning to action, she’s averaged 5.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game while coming off the bench.
“I think it’s more so, started off the season strong. When you start, you are able to feel the game in the first five minutes and then you settle in,” Ogwumike said. “When you come off the bench, it’s a little harder to figure out. You don’t have that time to feel the game, you have to get out and go, but also understanding that I missed four or five games dealing with a foot situation and it’s still not fully great, but being able…
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