{
  "id": 8818716,
  "title": "Ogwumike becomes 4th player in WNBA history with 8,000 points as the Sparks beat the Fire 105-84",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/ogwumike-becomes-4th-player-in-wnba-history-with-8-000-points-as-the",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-21T01:44:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/basketball/2026/09/20/ogwumike-becomes-4th-player-in-wnba-history-with-8000-points-as-the-sparks-beat-the-fire-105-84"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nneka Ogwumike scored 20 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and dished out five assists as the Los Angeles Sparks defeated the Portland Fire 105-84 in a WNBA game on Sunday night. This marked Ogwumike's fourth achievement of reaching 8,000 points in her career, placing her alongside Diana Taurasi, Tina Charles, and DeWanna Bonner as the only fourth players in WNBA history to accomplish this feat.\n\nThe 2016 WNBA MVP, now with 8,013 points, also had 18 double-doubles during the season, the most she's ever had. In honor of Lisa Leslie, a three-time WNBA MVP who played for the Sparks from 1999-2007 and helped her team win back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002, her statue was unveiled outside Crypto.com Arena during a halftime ceremony.\n\nLisa Leslie, alongside the Sparks, scored 32 points in the first quarter, leading to a 21-19 halftime lead for the Sparks. Rae Burrell contributed 20 points, Ariel Atkins scored 14, and Chance Gray added 11 for the Sparks, who outscored the Fire 32-15 in the second half and ultimately won 60-41.\n\nThe Fire, currently 16-27, have lost four straight and seven of their last eight games. Tonie Morgan's three-pointer with 2:03 minutes left in the first quarter put the Sparks ahead 21-19. Carla Leite led Portland with 23 points on 7-of-10 shooting, while Charisma Osborne scored a career-high 13 points, Megan DiLeo added 11, and Emily Engstler had 10. Bridget Carleton (ankle) and Dearica Hamby (knee), along with Cameron Brink (ankle), did not play in the game for Portland.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Breanna Stewart has 27 to move into 8th on WNBA scoring list as Liberty beat Tempo 106-69",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/breanna-stewart-has-27-to-move-into-8th-on-wnba-scoring-list-as",
        "published": "2026-09-20T21:19:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Breanna Stewart has 27 to move into 8th on WNBA scoring list as Liberty beat Tempo 106-69",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/breanna-stewart-has-27-to-move-into-8th-on-wnba-scoring-list-as-8777963",
        "published": "2026-09-20T21:20:18.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}