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Los Angeles Sparks head coach Curt Miller reflected before one of the Sparks recent home games the game. "There's no simple way through it." The Sparks must work through their growing pains as a young team, even as some of their young pieces nurse injuries. In the Sparks have a clear vision and direction, but they struggle to close out games right now. They can and do compete with the WNBA's best for three and a half quarters but rarely four. When the pressure mounts in the fourth quarter, they...
Los Angeles Sparks head coach Curt Miller reflected before one of the Sparks recent home games the game. "There's no simple way through it." The Sparks must work through their growing pains as a young team, even as some of their young pieces nurse injuries. In the Sparks have a clear vision and direction, but they struggle to close out games right now. They can and do compete with the WNBA's best for three and a half quarters but rarely four. When the pressure mounts in the fourth quarter, they...
While there are no moral victories in sports, the Los Angeles Sparks are several possessions away from having a respectable record instead of being 5-17 this season. It was evident once again in their last four games. Their Tuesday game against the Washington Mystics (5-17) at Crypto.com Arena on July 2, the Sparks went into the 4th quarter with a double-digit lead, only to find themselves down by two points when the final buzzer went off. That loss extended the Sparks losing streak to eight consecutive games. The following game last Friday...
The Sparks knocked off the defending champion, Las Vegas Aces 96-92 last Sunday before heading on the road for nearly a month. The Sparks are currently 4-8 and with a quarter of the season finished here are some takeaways from what I've seen so far. Turnovers and bad point guard play has plagued the team The Sparks have had their struggles so far this year and one of the key reasons is turnovers. Los Angeles averages the most turnovers in the WNBA with 16.6 per game. The Sparks have six games wi...
Sparks forward Dearica Hamby is the WNBA's Western Conference Player of the Week for June 3 through June 9, the league announced today. Hamby is the fourth player to win the award this season, joining Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper and A'ja Wilson. Hamby led the Sparks to a 2-1 record the past week, including a defeat of the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces, averaging 19.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals per contest. Among WNBA players scoring 19 points-or-more per...
They're gritty. They have the city glowing. The Los Angeles Sparks are growing. A franchise once synonymous with championships, the Sparks are coming off three consecutive losing seasons. But this isn't them. Derek Fisher is an afterthought. Fred Williams is gone. Marquee names like Nneka Ogwumike and Liz Cambage are missing. Yes, this rendition of the team looks different. They have retooled, are reborn and reinvigorated. These Sparks have a spark. Their 1-2 record doesn't tell their story....
Two-time WNBA Coach of the Year Curt Miller announced the final additions to the 2024 Sparks coaching and support staff today. He will be joined on the bench by assistant coaches Camille Smith, Neil Harrow, and Nola Henry; with Steve Smith and Danielle Viglione returning in new positions. Camille Smith (formerly Camille Little) played 13 seasons in the WNBA after being drafted 17th overall by the San Antonio Silver Stars in 2007 and played for the Atlanta Dream, Seattle Storm (2010 WNBA...
The Los Angeles Sparks today announced the acquisition of guard Julie Allemand, center Li Yueru and a 2025 third round pick from the Chicago Sky in exchange for the number 8 pick in this year's draft. Allemand is the starting point guard on the Belgium National Team which beat Senegal at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament on February 9 to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 5-foot-8 guard has played in two seasons in the league with the Indiana Fever (2020) and Chicago Sky...
The WNBA announced today that Jordin Canada has earned 2023 WNBA All-Defensive First Team honors and Nneka Ogwumike has earned Second Team honors. "I'm excited for both Jordin and Nneka to be recognized for their outstanding defensive performances this season," Head Coach Curt Miller said. "They spearheaded our disruptive philosophy and helped us establish our defensive foundation for the future." Canada has been selected to the All-Defensive First Team for the second time in her career. She...
The Los Angeles Sparks have announced that Karlie Samuelson and Rae Burrell have been waived. Samuelson's most recent WNBA season was in 2022 with the Phoenix Mercury on a hardship contract. In 2021, she played with the Los Angeles Sparks where she started in three of 11 games played. She averaged 3.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, and shot 47.8% from three-point range. She has played in 42 total WNBA games for the Los Angeles Sparks, Seattle Storm, Dallas Wings, and Phoenix Mercury. Burrell was drafted...
The Los Angeles Sparks selected Zia Cooke out of South Carolina with the 10th overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm. “We are thrilled to add Zia to a growing list of quality players on and off the court,” said Sparks CAO and GM Karen Bryant. “In evaluating Zia, there are so many aspects of her game coupled with intangibles that made her an obvious choice with the 10th pick.” The 5-9, Toledo native played in 137 games (all starts) for the Gamecocks, holding averages of 13.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.9 steal...
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Sparks selected Zia Cooke out of South Carolina with the 10th overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft presented by State FarmÒ. "We are thrilled to add Zia to a growing list of quality players on and off the court," said Sparks CAO and GM Karen Bryant. "In evaluating Zia, there are so many aspects of her game coupled with intangibles that made her an obvious choice with the 10th pick." The 5-9, Toledo native played in 137 games (all starts) for the Gamecocks, ho...
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Sparks announced today that Director of Sports Medicine and Head Athletic Trainer Dr. Courtney Watson is returning to the Los Angeles Sparks for her 15th season with the team. "We are grateful for Courtney's continued commitment to the LA Sparks," said Sparks CAO & GM Karen Bryant. "She is a true professional, very well respected across our league and the broader sports industry. Most importantly, she is passionate about the health and wellness of our players and w...
The Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA play three important home games within the next week starting tonight (Thursday) when they battle Seattle at Staples Center at 7:30 p.m. The 4-1 Sparks are currently in second place in the 12-team WNBA league and Seattle is in third place with a record of 5-2. Both teams have a combination of veteran and younger players that give them the best opportunity to create good winning chemistry. The Sparks have two of the best players in the WNBA in Candace Parker...
Candace Parker and the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA are back in the finals for the second year in-a-row against the Minnesota Lynx. The first game of the best of five game series is Sunday, September 24, in Minnesota at 12:30 p.m. on ABC. The second game is also in Minnesota on Tuesday at 5 p.m. The third game of the series will be in Los Angeles at the Staples Center on Friday, September 29, at 6 p.m. The fourth game if necessary will be at the Staples Center on Sunday, October 1 and the fifth game if necessary will be back in Minnesota on...
The Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA took a step in the right direction last Tuesday night at Staples Center when they beat the Phoenix Mercury in the first game of the WNBA semifinals. The final score was 79-66. All five Sparks starters scored in double figures. After playing one more game at home the Sparks travel to Phoenix for games three and four this weekend, on Sunday at 2 p.m. and Tuesday if necessary. It’s a best of five series....
The Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA are happy to be at home inside the Staples Center. They are 15-5 overall and 10-0 at home. They look like the NBA champion Golden State Warriors when they play at home. They are starting to dominate teams and they are doing this with smiles on their faces. Regardless of what you do you have to enjoy what you do, said Sparks head coach Brian Agler last Monday after their win over Indiana. It’s nice to see our players not only having success but it’s good to see...
Sparks win WNBA Championship. See Steve Finley's play by play account this week....
For the first time in a long time the two best teams in the WNBA are playing for the championship. The Los Angeles Sparks and the Minnesota Lynx have each won one game in a best of five game series. They play probably the most important game of the series tonight (Friday) at the Galen Center on the USC campus. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. What makes this series so intriguing is both teams have super stars, outstanding starting line ups, players that can come off the bench and contribute and very...
The Los Angeles Sparks will play the Minnesota Lynx in the 206 WNBA Finals starting Sunday October 9, in Minnesota at 12 p.m. at the Target Center. Game 2 will also be played in Minnesota at 5 p.m. and Games 3 and 4 will take place in Los Angeles. Game 3 will be played at USC's Galen Center on Friday, October 14, at 6 p.m. and Game 4, if necessary will take place at Staples Center on Sunday, October 16, at 5:30 p.m. To reach the finals the Sparks beat the Chicago Sky 3-1 in a best-of five-game...
With part owner Magic Johnson and his wife Cookie looking on the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA began their 2016 playoff run looking like the same team that started the season 20-1. The Sparks have one goal in mind and that is to win the WNBA championship. If they play like they did last Wednesday the only thing standing in their way are themselves. They have all the ingredients to win a championship. Their starting lineup of Ogwumike, Candace Parker, Essence Carson, Kristi Toliver and Alana...
The Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA will end their regular season against San Antonio tonight (Friday) at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. The Sparks are 25-8 and securely in second place going into the eight-team playoffs. After the Olympic break the Sparks had some problems recapturing their winning ways. Last Tuesday they looked like the team that set WNBA and Sparks records before the Olympic break. They beat a good Phoenix Mercury team 90-85. Against the...
The Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA are trying to recapture the magic that allowed them to be the best team in the league before the Olympic break last month. After the break they are 3-3 at Press Time. The Sparks are currently 24-6 and have three important games remaining on their regular season schedule. Right now the Sparks are a game behind Minnesota for the best record in the league. Whoever has the best record will have home court advantage throughout the playoffs. "After the Olympic break...
If you follow the history of basketball a few things are perfectly clear. If your team expects to win a championship you need at least two superstars to complete the journey to the top. The Lakers had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson and Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. The Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA have Nneka Ogwumike and Candace Parker. Like any championship team every player on that roster plays an important role in that team's success. All 12 women on the Sparks roster are...
The Los Angeles Sparks are winning, smiling and laughing on their way to the best record in the WNBA. They are 16-1 at press time and the six new players they signed in the off season have added talent and chemistry to a team that already had some of the best players in the league. During their 77-67 win over the New York Liberty last Sunday All-Star forward Candace Parker played defense against her own teammate Kristi Toliver during the last few seconds of the game. Now that's having fun....
