2019 Los Angeles Sparks season

Last updated

2019 Los Angeles Sparks season
Coach Derek Fisher
Arena Staples Center
Attendance11,306 per game
Results
Record28–6 (.824)
Place1st (Western)
Playoff finish3rd seed, Lost in Semifinals to Connecticut, 0-3
Team Leaders
Points Candace Parker – 19.9 ppg
Rebounds Jantel Lavender – 7.9 rpg
Assists Chelsea Gray – 5.9 apg
Media
Television Spectrum SportsNet
ESPN2, CBSSN, NBATV

The 2019 WNBA season was the 23rd season for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association.

Contents

During the off-season, head coach Brian Agler resigned and accepted the head coach position with the Dallas Wings. [1] On December 5, former NBA player Derek Fisher was announced as the new head coach. [2]

The Sparks started the season with a 6-6 record in the first two months. Their good form continued into August, with the team going 8–4 and putting together a five game win streak. The turn around game mostly at home, with the Sparks posting a 9–0 home record during July and August. The team finished out the season with three straight wins at home. Their 22–12 overall record, secured them the third seed in the playoffs.

After earning a bye in the first round, the Sparks easily defeated the Seattle Storm at home, 92–69. This set up a semifinal matchup with the Connecticut Sun. The Sparks lost the first two road games in the series, and couldn't win the third game at home. The Sun swept the Sparks to end their season.

After the 2019 season, Penny Toler was dismissed as general manager. Her dismissal came among rumors that she entered the locker room after a playoff game and gave a "obscenity-laced speech that also included several racial epithets". [3] [4]

Transactions

WNBA draft

RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/Team/Country
17 Kalani Brown Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Baylor
219 Marina Mabrey Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Notre Dame
331 Ángela Salvadores Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Ensino (Spain)

Trades/Roster Changes

DateDetails
February 1, 2019Re-signed G Karlie Samuelson [5] [6]
Re-signed G Odyssey Sims [5] [7]
February 6, 2019Signed F Ashley Walker [8] [9]
February 11, 2019Re-signed G/F Alana Beard [10] [11]
February 13, 2019Signed G/F Tierra Ruffin-Pratt [12]
February 20, 2019Signed G Alina Iagupova [13]
March 5, 2019Signed C Rachel Hollivay [14]
March 28, 2019Signed G Loryn Goodwin [15]
April 12, 2019Signed G Gabby Green [16]
April 22, 2019Traded G Odyssey Sims to Minnesota in exchange for G Alexis Jones [17]
April 27, 2019Traded their first-round pick in the 2020 WNBA draft to Connecticut in exchange for F Chiney Ogwumike [18]
April 30, 2019Re-signed G Chelsea Gray [19]
May 13, 2019Claimed G Cierra Dillard off Waivers [20]
Waived G Gabby Green and G Gabby Green [21]
May 15, 2019Re-signed G Riquna Williams [22]
May 20, 2019Traded C Jantel Lavender to Chicago in exchange for Chicago's second round pick in the 2020 WNBA draft [23]

Roster

2019 Los Angeles Sparks roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
G/F 0 Flag of the United States.svg Beard, Alana 5' 11" (1.8m)160 lb (73kg)1982-05-14 Duke 13
C 21 Flag of the United States.svg Brown, Kalani 6' 7" (2.01m)245 lb (111kg)1997-03-21 Baylor R
G 12 Flag of the United States.svg Gray, Chelsea 5' 11" (1.8m)170 lb (77kg)1992-10-08 Duke 4
G 1 Flag of the United States.svg Jones, Alexis 5' 9" (1.75m)173 lb (78kg)1994-05-08 Baylor 2
G 5 Flag of the United States.svg Mabrey, Marina 5' 11" (1.8m)170 lb (77kg)1996-09-14 Notre Dame R
F 30 Flag of the United States.svg Ogwumike, Nneka 6' 2" (1.88m)174 lb (79kg)1990-07-02 Stanford 7
F 13 Flag of the United States.svg Ogwumike, Chiney 6' 4" (1.93m)173 lb (78kg)1992-05-22 Stanford 3
F/C 3 Flag of the United States.svg Parker, Candace 6' 4" (1.93m)175 lb (79kg)1986-04-19 Tennessee 11
G 10 Flag of the United States.svg Ruffin-Pratt, Tierra 5' 11" (1.8m)180 lb (82kg)1991-04-11 North Carolina 6
C 7 Flag of Russia.svg Vadeeva, Maria 6' 4" (1.93m)185 lb (84kg)1998-06-16 Russia 1
G 24 Flag of the United States.svg Wiese, Sydney 6' 0" (1.83m)165 lb (75kg)1995-06-16 Oregon State 2
G 2 Flag of the United States.svg Williams, Riquna 5' 7" (1.7m)165 lb (75kg)1990-05-28 Miami (FL) 6
Head coach
Flag of the United States.svg Derek Fisher (Little Rock)
Assistant coaches
Flag of the United States.svg Latricia Trammell (East Central)
Flag of the United States.svg Fred Williams (Boise State)
Athletic trainer
Flag of the United States.svg Courtney Watson (California)
Strength and conditioning coach
Flag of the United States.svg Kelly Dormandy (Springfield)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured

Game log

Preseason

2019 pre-season game log
May: 1–1 (Home: 0–0; Road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1May 11@ Phoenix Mercury L 75–82 Walker (16)Tied (7) Jones (5) Talking Stick Resort Arena
3,751		0–1
2May 17 Seattle Storm W 92–85 N. Ogwumike (18) N. Ogwumike (7) Jones (6) Hutto-Patterson Gym
N/A		1–1
2019 pre-season schedule

Regular season

2019 game log
Total: 22–12 (Home: 15–2; Road: 7–10)
May: 1–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1May 26@ Las Vegas Aces L 70–83 Vadeeva (24) N. Ogwumike (11)3 tied (4) Mandalay Bay Events Center
7,249		0–1
2May 31 Connecticut Sun W 77–70 C. Ogwumike (20) N. Ogwumike (15)Tied (4) Staples Center
12,334		1–1
June : 5–5 (Home: 2–2; Road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
3June 4@ New York Liberty W 78–73 Gray (29) C. Ogwumike (10) Gray (4) Westchester County Center
3,579		2–1
4June 6@ Connecticut Sun L 77–89 N. Ogwumike (21) N. Ogwumike (10) Gray (6) Mohegan Sun Arena
5,496		2–2
5June 8@ Minnesota Lynx W 89–85 Williams (25)Tied (9) Ruffin-Pratt (5) Target Center
8,834		3–2
6June 14@ Phoenix Mercury W 85–65 Gray (21) N. Ogwumike (8) Gray (9) Talking Stick Resort Arena
10,381		4–2
7June 15 New York Liberty L 92–98 C. Ogwumike (26) C. Ogwumike (14) Gray (6) Staples Center
11,388		4–3
8June 18 Washington Mystics L 52–81 Tied (12)Tied (7) Parker (3) Staples Center
9,537		4–4
9June 21@ Seattle Storm L 62–84 N. Ogwumike (10) C. Ogwumike (6)4 tied (2) Angel of the Winds Arena
6,114		4–5
10June 23@ Phoenix Mercury L 72–82 Tied (12) N. Ogwumike (13) Gray (7) Talking Stick Resort Arena
10,132		4–6
11June 27 Las Vegas Aces W 86–74 3 tied (18) C. Ogwumike (10) Gray (6) Staples Center
10,295		5–6
12June 30 Chicago Sky W 94–69 Williams (19) C. Ogwumike (7)Tied (5) Staples Center
11,067		6–6
July : 5–2 (Home: 2–0; Road: 3–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
13July 7 Washington Mystics W 98–81 N. Ogwumike (31)Tied (10) Gray (13) Staples Center
10,336		7–6
14July 9@ Dallas Wings L 62–74 N. Ogwumike (15)Tied (10) Gray (4) College Park Center
6,885		7–7
15July 12@ Indiana Fever W 90–84 N. Ogwumike (22) C. Ogwumike (9) Gray (6) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
7,849		8–7
16July 14@ Atlanta Dream W 76–71 (OT) Williams (23) N. Ogwumike (15) Gray (9) State Farm Arena
5,083		9–7
17July 18 Dallas Wings W 69–64 N. Ogwumike (22) Gray (9) Gray (4) Staples Center
14,050		10–7
18July 20@ New York Liberty L 78–83 N. Ogwumike (20) N. Ogwumike (12) Wiese (6) Westchester County Center
2,195		10–8
19July 23@ Atlanta Dream W 78–66 N. Ogwumike (24) C. Ogwumike (12) Gray (6) State Farm Arena
7,047		11–8
August : 8–4 (Home: 7–0; Road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
20August 1 Las Vegas Aces W 76–68 N. Ogwumike (19) N. Ogwumike (11) Gray (10) Staples Center
11,692		12–8
21August 4 Seattle Storm W 83–75 Parker (21) N. Ogwumike (10) Gray (8) Staples Center
12,820		13–8
22August 8 Phoenix Mercury W 84–74 N. Ogwumike (24) Parker (11) Parker (6) Staples Center
10,345		14–8
23August 11 Chicago Sky W 84–81 Gray (26) N. Ogwumike (12) Gray (6) Staples Center
9,244		15–8
24August 14@ Dallas Wings L 78–84 Gray (22) N. Ogwumike (9) Gray (7) College Park Center
5,004		15–9
25August 16@ Chicago Sky L 81–91 Gray (25) N. Ogwumike (7)Tied (5) Wintrust Arena
7,907		15–10
26August 20 Minnesota Lynx W 81–71 Parker (20) Parker (10) N. Ogwumike (4) Staples Center
16–10
27August 22 Indiana Fever W 98–65 N. Ogwumike (17)Tied (7) Parker (5) Staples Center
8,816		17–10
28August 25 Connecticut Sun W 84–72 Williams (21) N. Ogwumike (8) Gray (6) Staples Center
17,076		18–10
29August 27@ Washington Mystics L 66–95 Tied (12) Vadeeva (7) Gray (7) St. Elizabeth's East Arena
4,200		18–11
30August 29@ Indiana Fever W 87–83 Gray (30) N. Ogwumike (8) Gray (9) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
5,641		19–11
31August 31@ Las Vegas Aces L 86–92 Williams (37) N. Ogwumike (7) Gray (7) Mandalay Bay Events Center
8,470		19–12
September : 3–0 (Home: 3–0; Road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
32September 3 Atlanta Dream W 70–60 Parker (21) Parker (11) Parker (6) Staples Center
9,889		20–12
33September 5 Seattle Storm W 102–68 Parker (20) N. Ogwumike (10) Gray (7) Staples Center
10,591		21–12
34September 8 Minnesota Lynx W 77–68 Williams (15) Parker (7) Gray (8) Staples Center
13,500		22–12
2019 season schedule

Playoffs

2019 playoff game log
Total: 1–3 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–2)
Second Round: 1–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1September 15 Seattle Storm W 92–68 Gray (21) Parker (10) Gray (8) Staples Center
9,081		1–0
Semifinals: 0–3 (Home: 0–1; Road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1September 17@ Connecticut Sun L 75–84 Parker (24)Tied (10) Gray (4) Mohegan Sun Arena
7,102		0–1
2September 19@ Connecticut Sun L 68–94 N. Ogwumike (18) N. Ogwumike (7) Gray (5) Mohegan Sun Arena
8,051		0–2
3September 22 Connecticut Sun L 56–78 N. Ogwumike (17) N. Ogwumike (6) Gray (4) Walter Pyramid
4,000		0–3
2019 playoff schedule

Standings

# Western Conference
W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
1 Los Angeles Sparks (3)2212.647–15–27–1010–6
2 Las Vegas Aces (4)2113.618113–48–911–5
3 Seattle Storm (6)1816.529411–67–1010–6
4 Minnesota Lynx (7)1816.529411–67–107–9
5 Phoenix Mercury (8)1519.44179–86–115–11
6e – Dallas Wings 1024.294128–92–155–11

Playoffs

First round:
Single elimination
(Sept. 11)		Second round:
Single elimination
(Sept. 15)		Semifinals:
Best-of-five
(Sept. 17 – Sept. 24)		 WNBA Finals:
Best-of-five
(Sept. 29 – Oct. 10)
1 Washington Mystics 971037594
4 Las Vegas Aces 934 Las Vegas Aces 95919290
5 Chicago Sky 1055 Chicago Sky 921 Washington Mystics 9587948689
8 Phoenix Mercury 762 Connecticut Sun 8699819078
2 Connecticut Sun 849478
3 Los Angeles Sparks 923 Los Angeles Sparks 756856
6 Seattle Storm 846 Seattle Storm 69
7 Minnesota Lynx 74

Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

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 323227.951.033.882.88.81.81.90.516.1
Chelsea Gray 343432.641.638.291.73.85.91.00.114.5
Riquna Williams 231425.838.439.188.02.61.61.10.212.3
Candace Parker 222226.042.246.779.16.43.51.00.811.2
Chiney Ogwumike 321421.849.425.080.95.80.81.00.79.6
Maria Vadeeva 15112.049.031.376.93.90.71.00.27.8
Tierra Ruffin-Pratt 343325.236.734.285.42.41.70.80.66.0
Kalani Brown 28013.547.8078.33.50.60.30.85.4
Sydney Wiese 321620.638.536.61001.31.80.50.34.8
Alexis Jones 20112.240.033.380.01.11.80.30.24.0
Marina Mabrey 31011.534.427.387.51.21.00.60.24.0
Alana Beard 16314.744.920.077.81.51.40.80.23.3

Awards and honors

RecipientAwardDate awardedRef.
Nneka Ogwumike WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week July 15, 2019 [24]
Chelsea Gray WNBA All-Star Selection July 15, 2019 [25]
Nneka Ogwumike
Nneka Ogwumike WNBA Western Conference Player of the Month - July August 1, 2019 [26]
Candace Parker WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week August 5, 2019 [27]
Nneka Ogwumike August 12, 2019 [28]
Candace Parker September 9, 2019 [29]
Nneka Ogwumike Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award September 16, 2019 [30]

References

  1. ↑ Voepele, Mechelle (November 30, 2018). "Brian Agler resigns as Sparks coach". espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  2. ↑ Ballow, Jonah (December 5, 2018). "Sparks Hire Derek Fisher As Head Coach". WNBA.com. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Los Angeles Sparks GM Penny Toler Relieved Of Duties" (Press release). WNBA. October 4, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  4. ↑ Shelburne, Ramona (October 3, 2019). "Racial epithets, a star benched and a coach questioned: Inside the L.A. Sparks' chaotic finish". espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  5. 1 2 "Sparks Re-Sign Karlie Samuelson and Odyssey Sims". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. February 1, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Sparks re-sign guard Karlie Samuelson". usatoday.com. USA Today. February 1, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Sparks re-sign guard Odyssey Sims". usatoday.com. USA Today. February 1, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Sparks Sign Ashley Walker". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. February 6, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  9. ↑ "LA Sparks sign forward Ashley Walker". sports.yahoo.com. The Associated Press. February 6, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Sparks Re-Sign Defensive Player of the Year Alana Beard". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. February 11, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Los Angeles Sparks re-sign veteran guard-forward Alana Beard". espn.com. The Associated Press. February 11, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Sparks Sign Tierra Ruffin-Pratt". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. February 13, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Sparks Sign Alina Iagupova". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. February 20, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Sparks Sign Rachel Hollivay". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. March 5, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Sparks Sign Loryn Goodwin". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. March 28, 2019. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Sparks Sign Gabby Green". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. April 12, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Sparks Acquire Alexis Jones from the Minnesota Lynx". wnba.com. WNBA. April 22, 2019. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Sparks Acquire 2014 No. 1 Overall Pick Chiney Ogwumike". wnba.com. WNBA. April 27, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Sparks Re-Sign All-Star Chelsea Gray". wnba.com. WNBA. April 30, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Sparks Claim Cierra Dillard". wnba.com. WNBA. May 13, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  21. ↑ "Sparks Waive Loryn Goodwin and Gabby Green". wnba.com. WNBA. May 13, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  22. ↑ Feinberg, Doug (May 15, 2019). "Sparks re-sign Riquna Williams, who faces assault charges". The Associated Press. Retrieved May 16, 2019.[ dead link ]
  23. ↑ "Los Angeles Sparks Trade Jantel Lavender To Chicago Sky". wnba.com. WNBA. May 20, 2019. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  24. ↑ @WNBA (July 15, 2019). "🗣️ Congrats to Jonquel Jones and @Nnemkadi30 for earning this week's #PlayeroftheWeek 👏" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  25. ↑ "Seven-Time Selection Charles, Dupree, Highlight Reserves For All-Star". wnba.com. WNBA. July 15, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  26. ↑ @WNBA (August 1, 2019). "Congratulations to @De11eDonne and @Nnemkadi30 on being named Players of the Month! 💯🏀 #WNBA" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  27. ↑ "Delle Donne, Parker Earn Players Of The Week". wnba.com. WNBA. August 5, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  28. ↑ "Delle Donne, Ogwumike Named Players of the Week". wnba.com. WNBA. August 12, 2019. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  29. ↑ "Delle Donne, Parker Earn Player of the Week". wnba.com. WNBA. September 9, 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  30. ↑ "Los Angeles' Nneka Ogwumike Wins 2019 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award". wnba.com. WNBA. September 16, 2019. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
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