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Sparks Defeat Mercury 97-88; Hamby 27, Ogwumike Top-Five

5/22/2026

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Summary

Sparks Defeat Mercury

The Los Angeles Sparks defeated the Phoenix Mercury 97-88 in Phoenix on Thursday night.
Dearica Hamby recorded 27 points and 15 rebounds while the Sparks outscored the Mercury 35-19 in the second quarter, creating a franchise-record 60-43 halftime lead.
Nneka Ogwumike’s 12 points moved her past Tamika Catchings into fifth place on the WNBA career scoring list.

Summary

Suns, Mercury Extend

The Suns and Mercury extended their Gray Media broadcast deal through 2030.
They became the first NBA and WNBA clubs to share an OTA and streaming partner, merging Suns+ and Merc+ into Arizona’s Family Sports service.
In 2025-26 the Suns averaged over 110,000 viewers per game, ranking in the NBA’s top four.
Mercury’s audience grew about 500% after the OTA launch, aided by distribution of more than 10,000 antennas statewide.

History

Historical Context

After the NBA Board approved the league on April 24 1996, the WNBA launched its inaugural 1997 season with eight teams, including the Los Angeles Sparks and Phoenix Mercury. The first game drew 14,284 fans and aired on NBC, proving market demand. Today, the Sparks’ 27-point night and the Mercury’s new Gray Media deal echo that original push for viewership and franchise growth.

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Sparks Defeat Mercury

The Los Angeles Sparks defeated the Phoenix Mercury 97-88 in Phoenix on Thursday night.
Dearica Hamby recorded 27 points and 15 rebounds while the Sparks outscored the Mercury 35-19 in the second quarter, creating a franchise-record 60-43 halftime lead.
Nneka Ogwumike’s 12 points moved her past Tamika Catchings into fifth place on the WNBA career scoring list.

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