LOS ANGELES >> Nneka Ogwumike had 19 points, 14 rebounds and five assists to lead the Sparks to a 77-62 victory over the Chicago Sky on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena.

Dearica Hamby had 16 points, eight rebounds and five steals for the Sparks. Jordin Canada added 16 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Chicago was led by forward Alanna Smith, who finished with 19 points, nine rebounds and five blocked shots.

After Chicago (5-4) went on a 10-2 run early in the fourth quarter to close within 60-58 with 6:45 left, the Sparks closed the game with a 17-4 run to put the game away.

The Sparks (4-3) play at the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday to begin a stretch of six games in a 12-day span.

The Sparks scored the first seven points of the game and led 20-12 after the first quarter, and led 37-33 at halftime. Ogwumike scored 15 of her 19 team-high points in the first half.

Former Sparks guard Marina Mabrey knocked down a pull-up 3-pointer for Chicago to tie the score at 41-41 with 6:40 to go in the third quarter.

A big 3-pointer by rookie guard Zia Cooke gave the Sparks a 50-46 lead with 4:05 left in the third quarter. Cooke’s basket was part of a 12-2 run and the Sparks started to pull away, leading 58-48 heading into the fourth quarter.

Sparks coach Curt Miller got his trusted “quarterback” back with the return of veteran point guard Jasmine Thomas on Friday night.

The Sparks acquired the former All-Star and a 2023 first-round pick, which turned into rookie Zia Cooke, via trade during the offseason with the Connecticut Sun. The 33-year-old, who is in her 13th year in the WNBA out of Duke, scored five points in 12 minutes in her first game in the WNBA since suffering and recovering from an ACL injury in May 2022.

Miller said one of Thomas’ best attributes is her vocal leadership, which he experienced for the past seven seasons when both were a part of the Sun franchise.

“Another voice,” Miller began in a pregame interview. “Obviously, Jasmine has already been a voice in the locker room, but it’s always easier to lead when you’re with your peers on the court.”

Miller is also looking forward to Thomas being a catch-and-shoot player, who not only can initiate the offense but also be an outside shooting and scoring threat off the ball, which will provide the Sparks with additional floor spacing at the point guard slot.

Thomas also believes she can provide a defensive spark in Los Angeles.

“I’ve been a defensive paper my entire career definitely want to get back to that but also a leadership composure role,” she said. “Being able to bring the team together and encourage us when we’re doing well, but also being able to point out things that we can do better in-game time, instead of after and being able to make adjustments within the game.”