Sparks receive their championship rings, then beat Mystics 99-89

Nneka Ogwumike scored 23 points, rookie Sydney Wiese added 22 — hitting six 3-pointers, and the Sparks beat the Washington Mystics 99-89 on Friday night.

Before the game, Los Angeles received its 2016 championship rings.

Los Angeles had a 74-53 lead with 4:16 left in the third quarter but Washington closed on a 17-4 run, capped by Tayler Hill’s jumper just before the buzzer, to pull to 78-70. Washington forward Elena Delle Donne scored eight points in the quarter.

The Sparks started the fourth-quarter scoring and the Mystics didn’t get closer than seven points the rest of the way.

Candace Parker and Essence Carson made their season debuts for Los Angeles (2-0) after returning from the Turkish League. Parker had 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists, Chelsea Gray scored 16 and Alana Beard added 12 points.

Los Angeles led 59-48 at halftime after shooting 65.6 percent. Wiese started 7 of 7, with five 3-pointers, in her first nine minutes. Delle Donne led three Mystic starters in double figures with 15. Delle Donne finished with 27 points for Washington (1-1) and Hill added 20. Kristi Toliver scored 15 points in her return to Los Angeles where she spent seven seasons.