Sparks Fly Amid Struggles

A big win in Minnesota caps off a busy week for Los Angeles.

Written By: Molly Tepper
Twitter: mollytepper

The Los Angeles Sparks (12-18) are 3-7 in their last ten games. From depth issues caused by injury, poor defensive rotations, and turnovers, the trade deadline departure of five-time All-Star Kelsey Plum was the icing on the cake of a rough stretch for LA.

Despite the tribulations, three positive takeaways emerged out of the All-Star break that tell a different story. While this season is not about what the Sparks have been continuously missing, it is about what they are finding in the wake of the future.

In their first game out of the All-Star Break, the Sparks took on Breanna Stewart and an experienced Liberty (20-13) team. Although they came up short, the Sparks shot 60% from the field and had 35 assists. Yet, New York’s deep roster, including 41 points off the bench and crucial threes in the fourth, sealed the game 113-109.

Despite the loss, there was a bright spot in the form of a 6’2” guard from the University of Tennessee. Fifth-year guard Rae Burrell dropped 24 points and led the Sparks on the defensive end, including four steals versus the Liberty.

Burrell’s improvement can be seen directly in her scoring. From the beginning of her professional career in 2022, Burrell’s scoring average has increased from 1.7 points per game as a rookie to 13.3 points so far in 2026, a career high. She is also shooting her best from the field, 46%, and has nearly doubled her assist numbers. For a Sparks team that has had to lean so heavily on its veterans like Nneka Ogwumike and Erica Wheeler, Burrell’s year-to-year growth exemplifies why she has become such a vital player as well as someone to watch going forward.

After the loss to the Liberty, head coach Lynne Roberts praised Rae Burrell:

“Rae was phenomenal. Attacking, and a couple of times she had a turnover, she got both of them back. That’s winning basketball. We didn’t get the reward of the win, but I am proud of the team.”

Then came the trade deadline. The talks of trading Kelsey Plum came to fruition on August 2nd, sending the All-Star guard to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for second-year guard Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round pick, and a 2028 second-round pick. In a seemingly lost season, the Sparks cashed in on their biggest asset.

Building a team with strong starters that need more depth and playmakers means getting younger and finding cost-controlled players who can continue to grow into bigger roles. Rae Burrell perfectly encapsulates just that. In a season without a clear path to the playoffs, Plum was most likely not going to re-sign with the Sparks in the offseason. Thus, turning her into two future draft picks and a young guard sets Los Angeles up for the next few years.

All the trade talk noise meant nothing to the Sparks once the ball tipped against the Portland Fire. That evening, they snapped their six-game losing streak 106-101. LA had 30+ assists in back-to-back games as well as 16 three-pointers made back-to-back.

Depth on the bench has been a continuous problem for Los Angeles this season. The Sparks fell 95-88 to the Chicago Sky (12-19), but the loss came with a real sign of life from Cameron Brink and Jihyun Park off the bench. Brink, still working back into a rhythm after injury, put together 11 points, six rebounds, and three blocks in 14 minutes. Park added seven points, going 2-of-3 from three, giving the Sparks another shooting option to space the floor.

Coach Lynne Roberts highlighted Park’s recent impact after the game:

“JP’s been great. I think what you’re seeing with her now is her finding more of a rhythm and flow in her game. She’s very, very smart. She always seems to be in the right place at the right time. She just wants to win, and she comes in prepared. Just a true professional. We’re lucky to have her.”

In a back-to-back road game against the Minnesota Lynx (25-7), who had not lost a game since July 6th, the Sparks pulled all their bright spots together for a huge upset, winning 89-82. Persistent defense, forcing the Lynx into late-clock shots, combined with fluid offense, including a 17-point performance from Burrell, pushed the Sparks to victory. The star of the game came from off the bench, as Cameron Brink put up her best outing of the stretch with 12 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and three blocks. Her size against Naphessa Collier and her discipline to avoid foul trouble defined the game. Monique Akoa Makani added seven points, including multiple clutch field goals down the stretch, fueling LA’s 8-0 run to end the game.

Lynne Roberts on the perseverance of the team:

“Cam was phenomenal. Difference maker. And then I think Monique was tremendous. She’s been with us for four days, and she played down the stretch in the final minutes. I’m really proud of this group. The way we’ve just kind of kept on business and the way we responded to last night- back-to-backs are tough, and our players showed tremendous toughness and fortitude, and I think that’s the thing I’m most pleased with.”

Despite the Sparks’ poor record, there is plenty more to look forward to in the last six weeks of the season. The continued development of Burrell, Brink, and the rest of the bench gives the veterans a chance to rest more and thus play to their full potential. That combination brings a sense of stability and confidence to push LA through the rest of their season.

The Sparks will return home to take on the Golden State Valkyries on Sunday, August 9th at 4 p.m.

Photography Credits: LA Sparks/WNBA Photography

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