2016 Los Angeles Sparks season

Last updated

2016 Los Angeles Sparks season
WNBA champions
Coach Brian Agler
Arena Staples Center
Attendance9,638 per game
Results
Record26–8 (.765)
Place2nd (Western)
Playoff finishChampions
(Defeated Minnesota Lynx 3-2)
Team Leaders
Points Nneka Ogwumike – 19.7 ppg
Rebounds Nneka Ogwumike – 9.1 rpg
Assists Candace Parker – 4.9 apg
Media
Television Time Warner Cable SportsNet
ESPN2, NBATV

The 2016 WNBA season was the 20th season for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association. The season tipped off on May 15 at home, against the Seattle Storm. [1]

Contents

The Sparks started the season well, winning all five of their games in May. Three of the five wins came by double-digits, and the closest was a five-point win over Connecticut on May 26. The team continued its hot streak into June and did not lose until June 21. The three-point loss, which came at home against Minnesota, ended an eleven-game winning streak. The Sparks got revenge on Minnesota, winning three days later in Minnesota by a score of 94–76. The Sparks did not lose again in June and finished the month with a 10–1 record. The team went on a nine-game winning streak, which lasted until July 17. They then lost back-to-back games for the first time in the season, with losses coming on the road against Atlanta and Indiana. The team won its final game heading into the Olympic break to finish July 6–2. The return from the break was a rocky one with the Sparks losing both of their games in August. However, a trip to Texas to begin September saw the team return to its winning ways when they defeated San Antonio and Dallas. The Sparks lost three straight games from September 6 to September 11 before finishing the season with two wins. Their September record was 5–3 and they finished the season 26–8 overall.

The Sparks' 26–8 record earned them the second overall seed in the WNBA Playoffs and they finished two games behind top seed Minnesota. The Sparks earned a bye into the semifinals where they matched-up with fourth seed Chicago. The Sparks won the first two games at home, 95–75 and 99–84. When the series moved to Chicago, the Sparks lost Game 3 66–70. A return to Los Angeles wasn't needed as the Sparks won Game 4 95–75 to advance to the WNBA Finals and matched-up with first seed Minnesota. The series began in Minnesota and the Sparks won Game 1 78–76, but lost Game 2 60–79. The two teams again split Games 3 and 4 in Los Angeles, with the Sparks winning Game 3 92–75 and losing Game 4 79–85. In the deciding Game 5, the Sparks won in Minnesota 77–76 to secure their third WNBA title. [2]

Transactions

WNBA draft

The Sparks made three selections in the 2016 WNBA Entry Draft in Uncasville, Connecticut:

RoundPickPlayerNationalityWNBA TeamSchool/Team/Country
215 Whitney Knight Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Los Angeles Sparks from Connecticut Sun Florida Gulf Coast
223 Brianna Butler Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Los Angeles Sparks from Connecticut Sun Syracuse
329 Talia Walton Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Los Angeles Sparks Washington

Trades and Roster Changes

DateTransaction
February 11, 2016Signed Candace Parker [3]
February 17, 2016Signed Nneka Ogwumike [4]
March 1, 2016Acquired Riquna Williams and the 6th pick in the 2016 WNBA draft from the Dallas Wings in exchange for Erin Phillips, the 5th pick in the 2016 draft and, the 11th pick in the 2017 WNBA draft. [5]
March 31, 2016Signed Essence Carson [6]
April 14, 2016Acquired Chelsea Gray, the 15th and 23rd picks in the 2016 draft, and the 4th pick in the 2017 draft from the Connecticut Sun in exchange for Jonquel Jones and the 17th pick in the 2016 draft. [7]
May 11, 2016Waived Talia Walton
August 30, 2016Waived Whitney Knight [8]

Roster

2016 Los Angeles Sparks roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
G/F 0 Flag of the United States.svg Beard, Alana 6' 1" (1.85m)160 lb (73kg)05-14-1982 Duke 12
F 10 Flag of Russia.svg Belyakova, Evgeniya 6' 0" (1.83m)150 lb (68kg)06-27-1986 Russia R
G/F 17 Flag of the United States.svg Carson, Essence 6' 0" (1.83m)163 lb (74kg)07-28-1986 Rutgers 8
G 23 Flag of Serbia.svg Dabović, Ana 6' 0" (1.83m)157 lb (71kg)08-18-1989 Serbia 1
F 28 Flag of Montenegro.svg Dubljević, Jelena 6' 3" (1.91m)179 lb (81kg)05-07-1987 Montenegro R
G 12 Flag of the United States.svg Gray, Chelsea 5' 11" (1.8m)170 lb (77kg)10-08-1992 Duke 1
F/C 7 Flag of France.svg Gruda, Sandrine 6' 4" (1.93m)185 lb (84kg)06-25-1987 France 4
C 42 Flag of the United States.svg Lavender, Jantel 6' 4" (1.93m)185 lb (84kg)11-12-1988 Ohio State 5
F 30 Flag of the United States.svg Ogwumike, Nneka 6' 2" (1.88m)174 lb (79kg)07-02-1990 Stanford 4
F/C 3 Flag of the United States.svg Parker, Candace 6' 4" (1.93m)175 lb (79kg)04-19-1986 Tennessee 8
G 20 Flag of the United States.svg Toliver, Kristi 5' 7" (1.7m)130 lb (59kg)01-27-1987 Maryland 7
C 21 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Wauters, Ann 6' 4" (1.93m)193 lb (88kg)10-12-1980 Belgium 8
Head coach
Flag of the United States.svg Brian Agler (Wittenberg)
Assistant coaches
Flag of the United States.svg Tonya Edwards (Tennessee)
Flag of the United States.svg Amber Stocks (Cincinnati)
Athletic trainer
Flag of the United States.svg Courtney Watson (California)
Strength and conditioning coach
Flag of the United States.svg Kelly Dormandy (Springfield College)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured

Schedule

Pre-season

2016 pre-season game log
Total: 3–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 2–0)
Pre-season: 3–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1May 7 Atlanta W 88–80 Candace Parker (22) Rebecca Tobin (10) Gray, Dabović (4) Pasadena College
460		1–0
2May 9@ San Antonio W 77–70 Chelsea Gray (18)Chelsea Gray (6)Ana Dabović (7) AT&T Center
2,307		2–0
3May 10@ Atlanta W 69–63 Essence Carson (11) Parker, Wauters (6)Chelsea Gray (3) McCamish Pavillion
1,385		3–0
2016 season schedule

Regular season

2016 game log
Total: 26–8 (Home: 14–3 Road: 12–5)
May: 5–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 4–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1May 15 Seattle W 96–66 Candace Parker (34) Nneka Ogwumike (7)Parker, Toliver (4) Staples Center
10,591		1–0
2May 20@ Washington W 97–67 Kristi Toliver (19)Candace Parker (9)Candace Parker (6) Verizon Center
7,807		2–0
3May 21@ New York W 79–72 Nneka Ogwumike (25)Nneka Ogwumike (15) Dabović, Parker, Toliver (3) Madison Square Garden
9,417		3–0
4May 24@ Chicago W 93–80 Candace Parker (26)Ogwumike, Parker (9)Kristi Toliver (10) Allstate Arena
5,554		4–0
5May 26@ Connecticut W 77–72 Candace Parker (22)Nneka Ogwumike (11)Ogwumike, Parker, Toliver (4) Mohegan Sun Arena
4,766		5–0
June: 10–1 (Home: 7–1; Road: 3–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
6June 2 San Antonio W 68–61 Nneka Ogwumike (21)Nneka Ogwumike (10) Candace Parker (7) Staples Center
8,341		6–0
7June 4@ San Antonio W 74–61 Candace Parker (15) Kristi Toliver (7) Gray, Lavender (3) AT&T Center
5,403		7–0
8June 7 New York W 100–77 Jantel Lavender (22)Nneka Ogwumike (10)Chelsea Gray (6) Staples Center
7,103		8–0
9June 11@ Dallas W 97–73 Nneka Ogwumike (32)Nneka Ogwumike (10)Candace Parker (6) College Park Center
5,061		9–0
10June 14 Chicago W 98–85 Nneka Ogwumike (27)Nneka Ogwumike (12) Alana Beard (6) Staples Center
7,348		10–0
11June 17 Phoenix W 77–71 Candace Parker (24)Candace Parker (11)Nneka Ogwumike (5) Staples Center
8,964		11–0
12June 21 Minnesota L 69–72 Kristi Toliver (20)Candace Parker (8)Candace Parker (6) Staples Center
9,112		11–1
13June 24@ Minnesota W 94–76 Kristi Toliver (25)Ogwumike, Parker (9)Alana Beard (7) Target Center
13,003		12–1
14June 26 Connecticut W 80–73 Nneka Ogwumike (27)Kristi Toliver (8)Kristi Toliver (5) Staples Center
9,441		13–1
15June 28 Dallas W 89–84 Candace Parker (31)Candace Parker (13)Candace Parker (7) Staples Center
7,823		14–1
16June 30 Atlanta W 84–75 Nneka Ogwumike (38)Nneka Ogwumike (11)Kristi Toliver (8) Staples Center
10,215		15–1
July: 6–2 (Home: 3–0; Road: 3–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
17July 3 New York W 77–67 Nneka Ogwumike (22)Nneka Ogwumike (15) Kristi Toliver (6) Staples Center
10,003		16–1
18July 6 Indiana W 94–88 Nneka Ogwumike (23) Jantel Lavender (7) Chelsea Gray (8) Staples Center
8,224		17–1
19July 10 Washington W 93–82 Candace Parker (26)Candace Parker (11)Candace Parker (9) Staples Center
19,076		18–1
20July 13@ Chicago W 77–67 Nneka Ogwumike (20)Nneka Ogwumike (11)Candace Parker (9) Allstate Arena
16,444		19–1
21July 15@ Connecticut W 98–92 Jantel Lavender (25)Lavender, Ogwumike (10)Candace Parker (7) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,430		20–1
22July 17@ Atlanta L 74–91 Nneka Ogwumike (26)Nneka Ogwumike (12)Candace Parker (5) Philips Arena
7,551		20–2
23July 19@ Indiana L 82–92 Kristi Toliver (18)Nneka Ogwumike (14)Nneka Ogwumike (7) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
7,269		20–3
24July 22@ Washington W 95–75 Nneka Ogwumike (24)Nneka Ogwumike (14)Candace Parker (6) Verizon Center
5,455		21–3
August: 0–2 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
25August 26@ Seattle L 72–79 Nneka Ogwumike (28) Candace Parker (10)Candace Parker (6) KeyArena
9,481		21–4
26August 28@ Phoenix L 66–70 Candace Parker (25)Candace Parker (13)Candace Parker (7) Talking Stick Resort Arena
11,905		21–5
September: 5–3 (Home: 3–2; Road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
27September 1@ San Antonio W 70–61 Kristi Toliver (21) Beard, Ogwumike (9) Parker, Toliver (6) AT&T Center
3,992		22–5
28September 2@ Dallas W 87–79 Nneka Ogwumike (28)Nneka Ogwumike (12)Candace Parker (5) College Park Center
5,176		23–5
29September 4 Indiana W 88–81 Nneka Ogwumike (21)Nneka Ogwumike (6)Nneka Ogwumike (8) Staples Center
11,332		24–5
30September 6 Minnesota L 74–77 Nneka Ogwumike (19)Ogwumike, Parker (8)Candace Parker (7) Staples Center
7,224		24–6
31September 8 Atlanta L 81–86 Carson, Gray, Parker (16)Nneka Ogwumike (8) Ana Dabović (5) Staples Center
6,152		24–7
32September 11@ Seattle L 60–78 Candace Parker (20)Candace Parker (10)Alana Beard (4) KeyArena
9,348		24–8
33September 13 Phoenix W 90–85 Nneka Ogwumike (24)Nneka Ogwumike (10)Kristi Toliver (7) Staples Center
9,371		25–8
34September 16 San Antonio W 71–65 Nneka Ogwumike (17)Nneka Ogwumike (10)Nneka Ogwumike (4) Staples Center
13,519		26–8
2016 season schedule

Playoffs

2016 playoff game log
Semifinals vs. Chicago
Won Series: 3–1
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1September 28 Chicago W 95–75 Candace Parker (30) Nneka Ogwumike (10)Nneka Ogwumike (6) Walter Pyramid
3,894		1–0
2September 30Chicago W 99–84 Lavender, Parker (20)Candace Parker (12)Candace Parker (8) Staples Center
7,855		2–0
3October 2@ Chicago L 66–70 Nneka Ogwumike (22)Candace Parker (15)Candace Parker (6) Allstate Arena
5,018		2–1
4October 4@ Chicago W 95–75 Candace Parker (29)Nneka Ogwumike (9) Chelsea Gray (7)Allstate Arena
3,841		3–1
Finals vs. Minnesota
Won Series: 3–2
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1October 9@ Minnesota W 78–76 Ogwumike, Toliver (19)Ogwumike, Parker (9) Chelsea Gray (4) Target Center
12,113		1–0
2October 11@ Minnesota L 60–79 Nneka Ogwumike (14)Nneka Ogwumike (12) Beard, Carson, Parker (3)Target Center
12,832		1–1
3October 14Minnesota W 92–75 Candace Parker (24)Ogwumike, Parker (9)Alana Beard (7) Galen Center
8,093		2–1
4October 16Minnesota L 79–85 Chelsea Gray (20)Nneka Ogwumike (8)Alana Beard (4) Staples Center
12,885		2–2
5October 20@ Minnesota W 77–76 Candace Parker (28)Ogwumike, Parker (12)Alana Beard (6)Target Center
19,423		3–2
2016 playoff schedule

Standings

Western Conference
W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
1 - Minnesota Lynx 286.824—15–213–415–1
2 - Los Angeles Sparks 268.765214–312–511–5
7 - Seattle Storm 1618.4711210–76–117–9
8 - Phoenix Mercury 1618.4711211–65–126–10
e - Dallas Wings 1123.324176–115–128–8
e - San Antonio Stars 727.206214–133–141–15

Playoffs

The Sparks qualified for the 2016 playoffs, and, as the team with the second-best regular season record in the WNBA, received two automatic byes, advancing straight to the best-of-five semifinal.

First round:
Single elimination
(Sept. 21)		Second round:
Single elimination
(Sept. 24 and 25)		Semifinals:
Best-of-five
(Sept. 28 – Oct. 6)		 WNBA Finals:
Best-of-five
(Oct. 9 – 20)
1 Minnesota Lynx 1139682
3 New York Liberty 948 Phoenix Mercury 958667
5 Indiana Fever 788 Phoenix Mercury 1011 Minnesota Lynx 7679758576
8 Phoenix Mercury 892 Los Angeles Sparks 7860927977
2 Los Angeles Sparks 95996695
4 Chicago Sky 1084 Chicago Sky 75847075
6 Atlanta Dream 946 Atlanta Dream 98
7 Seattle Storm 85

Note: Teams re-seeded after second round and semi-finals.

Statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage 3P%  3-point field-goal percentage FT%  Free-throw percentage TO  Turnovers per game
 PF  Fouls per gameTeam leaderLeague leader

Regular season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Nneka Ogwumike 333331.666.5%61.5%86.9%9.13.11.31.219.7
Candace Parker 343430.844.2%38.2%70.7%7.44.91.41.015.3
Kristi Toliver 333332.142.6%42.4%88.9%2.63.70.80.113.2
Jantel Lavender 34019.453.8%0.0%68.3%3.61.30.30.59.6
Essence Carson 343423.344.9%35.9%89.1%2.01.51.10.28.1
Alana Beard 343429.346.7%34.2%69.2%3.32.11.70.67.1
Chelsea Gray 33116.445.2%30.4%78.0%1.82.20.50.15.9
Ana Dabović 22010.737.0%15.8%75.9%0.81.30.60.03.0
Evgeniya Belyakova 21011.329.6%17.9%43.8%0.70.70.60.02.1
Jelena Dubljević 1505.340.9%33.3%100%0.90.50.10.11.5
Ann Wauters 2114.654.5%—75.0%1.10.40.20.11.4
Sandrine Gruda 705.333.3%—100%0.60.30.10.11.0
Whitney Knight 703.920.0%28.6%—0.40.10.30.30.9

Playoffs

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Candace Parker 9933.046.9%31.3%77.8%8.73.21.71.919.3
Nneka Ogwumike 9931.362.5%22.2%76.3%9.32.62.01.117.9
Kristi Toliver 9932.240.5%41.4%85.2%2.03.01.40.112.8
Chelsea Gray 9022.140.6%39.1%83.3%1.72.81.10.09.0
Alana Beard 9931.145.6%50.0%77.8%3.83.71.10.48.0
Jantel Lavender 9015.660.7%0.0%—2.31.00.00.17.6
Essence Carson 9925.233.3%25.8%50.0%2.31.20.40.16.7
Jelena Dubljević 203.050.0%——0.00.00.00.01.0
Ann Wauters 202.550.0%——1.00.00.00.51.0
Ana Dabović 608.07.1%14.3%100%0.32.00.20.00.8
Sandrine Gruda 602.8———0.80.00.20.00.2
Evgeniya Belyakova 302.70.0%0.0%—0.30.00.00.30.0

Awards and honors

RecipientAwardDate awardedRef.
Candace Parker Finals MVP October 20, 2016 [9]
Western Conference Player of the Week May 29, 2016 [10]
June 20, 2016
Nneka Ogwumike WNBA MVP October 18, 2016 [11]
All-WNBA First Team October 14, 2016 [12]
All-Defensive First Team September 30, 2016 [13]
Western Conference Player of the Week June 13, 2016 [10]
July 6, 2016
July 18, 2016
July 22, 2016
September 6, 2016
September 19, 2016
Western Conference Player of the Month - June July 1, 2016
Western Conference Player of the Month - July August 1, 2016
Jantel Lavender WNBA Sixth Player of the Year September 28, 2016 [14]
Alana Beard All-Defensive First Team September 30, 2016 [13]

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References

  1. ↑ "Los Angeles Sparks WNBA Basketball - Sparks News, Scores, Videos - College Basketball - ESPN". ESPN . Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  2. ↑ "With 3.1 Seconds Left, Los Angeles Sparks Seize W.N.B.A. Title" . The New York Times. October 21, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Candace Parker Re-Signs with Los Angeles Sparks - WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA".
  4. ↑ "L.A. Sparks re-sign All-Star forward Nneka Ogwumike". Espn.com. February 18, 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Sparks, Wings Exchange Erin Phillips, Riquna Williams, Draft Picks in Trade". WNBA. March 1, 2016. Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Liberty Loses It's [sic] Essence, Carson Signs With LA Sparks". doublegsports.com. Archived from the original on January 12, 2017.
  7. ↑ Los Angeles and Connecticut also trade second round positions in the 2016 WNBA Draft Archived 2016-10-21 at the Wayback Machine /
  8. ↑ "Sources: Sparks waive rookie Whitney Knight". swishappeal.com. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  9. ↑ "10/20/16: Los Angeles Sparks @ Minnesota Lynx - WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA". wnba.com. Associated Press. October 20, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  10. 1 2 "WNBA Awards - Across the Timeline". acrossthetimeline.com. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  11. ↑ Maloney, Jack (October 18, 2016). "Nneka Ogwumike Makes History As MVP and Champ in Same Season". wnba.com. WNBA . Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  12. ↑ "2016 All-WNBA First and Second Teams Announced". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  13. 1 2 "Sylvia Fowles, Nneka Ogwumike Headline 2016 WNBA All-Defensive Team". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Women's basketball | Ex-Ohio State star Jantel Lavender is WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year". The Repository. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
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