2020 Los Angeles Sparks season

Last updated

2020 Los Angeles Sparks season
Coach Derek Fisher
ArenaOriginally: Staples Center
Rescheduled to play at the: IMG Academy, in Bradenton, Florida
Attendance0 per game
Results
Record15–7 (.682)
Place3rd (Western)
Playoff finish3rd Seed, lost in the 2nd Round #7 Connecticut Sun, L 73-59
Team Leaders
Points Candace Parker (14.7 PPG)
Rebounds Candace Parker (9.7 RPG)
Assists Chelsea Gray (5.3 APG)
Media
Television Spectrum SportsNet
ESPN2, CBSSN, NBATV

The 2020 WNBA season was the 24th season for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association. The season will tip off on July 25, 2020, versus the Phoenix Mercury. [1]

Contents

This WNBA season will feature an all-time high 36 regular-season games. [2] However, the plan for expanded games was put on hold on April 3, when the WNBA postponed its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [3] Under a plan approved on June 15, the league is scheduled to hold a shortened 22-game regular season at IMG Academy, without fans present, starting on July 24. [4] [5]

The Sparks' season started slowly, with the team going 3–3 in their first six games. Every win was followed by a loss during that streak. Then the team warmed up and won nine games in a row, before losing the last game in August to go into the final month of the season 12–4, and already having secured a playoff berth. September was not kind to the Sparks, as they went 3–3 to finish out the season. Their final record of 15–7 was good enough for the third seed in the playoffs.

As the third seed, the Sparks were awarded a First Round bye and awaited the lowest remaining seed in the second round. They played the seventh seeded Connecticut Sun and suffered a disappointing 59–73 loss to end their season.

Transactions

WNBA draft

RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/team/country
220 Beatrice Mompremier Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Miami (FL)
222 Leonie Fiebich Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Wasserburg (Germany)
334 Tynice Martin Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States West Virginia

Trades/roster changes

DateDetails
February 10, 2020Signed G Kristi Toliver [6]
Traded C Kalani Brown to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for G Brittney Sykes and C Marie Gülich [7]
February 11, 2020Re-signed G/F Tierra Ruffin-Pratt [8]
February 20, 2020Signed G/F Seimone Augustus [9]
February 21, 2020Traded G Marina Mabrey to Dallas in exchange for Dallas' Second round pick in the 2021 WNBA draft [10]
February 28, 2020Re-signed G Chelsea Gray [11]
May 15, 2020Signed G Sydney Wiese to a contract extension. [12]
May 26, 2020Traded the second round pick acquired in the February 21st trade to Dallas in exchange for C Kristine Anigwe and a third round pick in the 2021 Draft. [13]
June 26, 2020G Kristi Toliver opts out of the 2020 season. [14]
F/C Chiney Ogwumike opts out of the 2020 season. [15]
June 27, 2020Signed F Reshanda Gray. [16]
June 28, 2020Signed G Te'a Cooper. [17]

Roster

2020 Los Angeles Sparks roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
F 31 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Anigwe, Kristine 6' 4" (1.93m)200 lb (91kg)1997-03-31 California 1
G/F 33 Flag of the United States.svg Augustus, Seimone 6' 0" (1.83m)174 lb (79kg)1984-04-30 LSU 14
G 4 Flag of the United States.svg Cooper, Te'a 5' 8" (1.73m)160 lb (73kg)1997-04-16 Baylor R
G 12 Flag of the United States.svg Gray, Chelsea 5' 11" (1.8m)170 lb (77kg)1992-10-08 Duke 5
F 1 Flag of the United States.svg Gray, Reshanda 6' 2" (1.88m)192 lb (87kg)1993-06-01 California 3
C 24 Flag of Germany.svg Gülich, Marie 6' 5" (1.96m)205 lb (93kg)1994-05-28 Oregon State 2
F 30 Flag of the United States.svg Ogwumike, Nneka 6' 2" (1.88m)174 lb (79kg)1990-07-02 Stanford 8
F/C 3 Flag of the United States.svg Parker, Candace 6' 4" (1.93m)175 lb (79kg)1986-04-19 Tennessee 12
G 10 Flag of the United States.svg Ruffin-Pratt, Tierra 5' 11" (1.8m)180 lb (82kg)1991-04-11 North Carolina 7
G 15 Flag of the United States.svg Sykes, Brittney 5' 9" (1.75m)154 lb (70kg)1994-02-07 Syracuse 3
G 24 Flag of the United States.svg Wiese, Sydney 6' 0" (1.83m)165 lb (75kg)1995-06-16 Oregon State 3
G 2 Flag of the United States.svg Williams, Riquna 5' 7" (1.7m)165 lb (75kg)1990-05-28 Miami (FL) 7
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 (Quinnipiac)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured

Game log

Regular season

2020 game log
Total: 15–7
July
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1July 25 Phoenix Mercury W 99–76 N. Ogwumike (21)Tied (7) Gray (7) IMG Academy
0		1–0
2July 28 Chicago Sky 78–96 Sykes (16) Parker (9) Gray (7)IMG Academy
0		1–1
3July 30 Connecticut Sun W 81–76 Gray (15) Parker (11) Gray (6)IMG Academy
0		2–1
August
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
4August 1 Seattle Storm L 75–81 Parker (19) Parker (12) Gray (5) IMG Academy
0		2–2
5August 5 Indiana Fever W 86–75 Parker (18) Parker (11) Gray (5)IMG Academy
0		3–2
6August 7 Las Vegas Aces L 82–86 Parker (20) Parker (12)Tied (4)IMG Academy
0		3–3
7August 9 Minnesota Lynx W 97–81 Williams (21) Parker (10) Parker (9)IMG Academy
0		4–3
8August 11 New York Liberty W 93–78 Tied (17) Parker (6)Tied (4)IMG Academy
0		5-3
9August 13 Washington Mystics W 81-64 Williams (13) Parker (9)Tied (3)IMG Academy
0		6-3
10August 15 Indiana Fever W 90-76 Williams (21)Tied (5)Tied (5)IMG Academy
0		7-3
11August 19 Phoenix Mercury W 83–74 3 tied (16) Parker (12) Gray (6)IMG Academy
0		8–3
12August 21 Atlanta Dream 92-85 (OT) Gray (20) Parker (9) Parker (5)IMG Academy
0		9-3
13August 23 Dallas Wings W 84-81 Sykes (23) Parker (14) Parker (6)IMG Academy
0		10-3
14August 28 Connecticut Sun W 80-76 Gray (27) Cooper (6) Parker (7)IMG Academy
0		11-3
15August 30 Atlanta Dream W 84–79 Sykes (15) Parker (10) Parker (7)IMG Academy
0		12–3
16August 31 Minnesota Lynx L 78–96 Gray (18) Parker (9) Gray (5)IMG Academy
0		12–4
September
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
17September 2 Dallas Wings W 91–83 Parker (22) Parker (10) Parker (6) IMG Academy
0		13-4
18September 4 Seattle Storm L 90–89 Parker (25) Parker (7) Parker
Gray (6)		IMG Academy
0		13-5
19September 6 Chicago Sky W 86–80 Parker (24) Parker (15) Gray (7)IMG Academy
0		14-5
20September 8 New York Liberty W 96–70 Tied (20) N.Ogwumike (8) Parker (7)IMG Academy
0		15-5
21September 10 Washington Mystics L 72–80 Gray (21) Parker (17) Parker (6)IMG Academy
0		15–6
22September 12 Las Vegas Aces L 70–84 N.Ogwumike (24) Parker (10) Gray (11)IMG Academy
0		15–7
2020 season schedule

Playoffs

2020 playoff game log
Total: 0–1
Second Round
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1September 17 Connecticut Sun L 73–59 Parker (22) Parker (14) Parker (5) IMG Academy
0		0–1
2020 playoff schedule

Standings

#Team W L PCT GB Conf.
1x – Las Vegas Aces 184.818–8–2
2x – Seattle Storm 184.818–8–2
3x – Los Angeles Sparks 157.68235–5
4x – Minnesota Lynx 148.63644–6
5x – Phoenix Mercury 139.59154–6
6x – Chicago Sky 1210.54566–4
7x – Connecticut Sun 1012.45587–3
8x – Washington Mystics 913.40996–4
9e – Dallas Wings 814.364101–9
10e – Atlanta Dream 715.318115–5
11e – Indiana Fever 616.273124–6
12e – New York Liberty 220.091162–8

Playoffs

First round:
Single elimination
(September 15)		Second round:
Single elimination
(September 17)		Semifinals:
Best-of-five
(September 20–29)		 WNBA Finals:
Best-of-five
(October 2–11)
1 Las Vegas Aces 6283688466
4 Minnesota Lynx 807 Connecticut Sun 8775777563
5 Phoenix Mercury 855 Phoenix Mercury 791 Las Vegas Aces 809159
8 Washington Mystics 842 Seattle Storm 9310492
2 Seattle Storm 888992
3 Los Angeles Sparks 594 Minnesota Lynx 867971
6 Chicago Sky 817 Connecticut Sun 73
7 Connecticut Sun 94

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
Candace Parker 222230.051.039.673.19.74.61.21.214.7
Chelsea Gray 222230.644.230.593.93.75.31.50.114.0
Nneka Ogwumike 181826.256.950.083.74.81.71.10.213.3
Riquna Williams 21421.143.542.288.91.81.51.10.310.5
Brittney Sykes 211424.448.732.780.62.62.11.50.310.1
Te'a Cooper 20317.345.134.476.51.02.00.707.0
Sydney Wiese 191519.150.547.291.71.71.20.60.16.8
Seimone Augustus 21015.849.154.566.71.81.20.60.15.9
Kristine Anigwe 17111.660.4053.82.60.20.60.44.6
Tierra Ruffin-Pratt 171014.526.746.273.12.10.90.60.22.9
Marie Gülich 1219.950.00100.01.50.60.30.32.4
Reshanda Gray 1006.336.4085.72.80.30.10.41.4

Awards and honors

RecipientAwardDate awardedRef.
Candace Parker WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week August 24, 2020 [18]
Peak Performer: Rebounds September 14, 2020 [19]
Defensive Player of the Year September 24, 2020 [20]
Nneka Ogwumike Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award September 29, 2020 [21]
Brittney Sykes 2nd Team All-Defense September 29, 2020 [22]
Candace Parker All-WNBA First Team October 4, 2020 [23]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Angeles Sparks</span> Womens basketball team

The Los Angeles Sparks are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Sparks compete in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as a member club of the league's Western Conference. The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began. Like some other WNBA teams, the Sparks have the distinction of not being affiliated with an NBA counterpart, even though the market is shared with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alana Beard</span> American professional womens basketball player

Alana Monique Beard is an American former professional basketball player. After playing college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils, she was drafted second overall by the Washington Mystics in the 2004 WNBA draft. She signed on with the Los Angeles Sparks as a free agent in 2012. Beard was the 2017 and 2018 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. However, she was injured next season, only contributing a few points for the Sparks. Beard announced her retirement from the WNBA on January 23, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Candace Parker</span> American basketball player

Candace Nicole Parker nicknamed "Ace", is an American professional basketball player for the Las Vegas Aces of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Widely regarded as one of the greatest WNBA players of all time, she was selected as the first overall pick in the 2008 WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. She spent 13 seasons on the Sparks, two seasons with the Chicago Sky, and as of 2023 has spent one season with the Las Vegas Aces, winning a championship with each team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago Sky</span> American WNBA womens professional basketball team

The Chicago Sky are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago. The Sky compete in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as a member club of the league's Eastern Conference. The franchise was founded prior to the 2006 season. The Sky experienced a period of success from 2013 to 2016, making four playoff appearances and playing in the 2014 WNBA Finals. They experienced a second period of success starting in 2019 and won their first championship in the 2021 WNBA Finals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nneka Ogwumike</span> American basketball player

Nnemkadi Chinwe Victoria "Nneka" Ogwumike is an American professional basketball player for the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), after being drafted No. 1 overall in the 2012 WNBA draft. Soon after being drafted, Ogwumike signed an endorsement deal with Nike. She is the older sister of Chiney Ogwumike, who also most recently played for the Sparks. Ogwumike was named WNBA MVP for the 2016 WNBA season and won the WNBA Finals the same year She was named to The W25 the league's list of the top 25 players of its first 25 years, in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Essence Carson</span> American basketball player

Essence Carson is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent. She played college basketball for Rutgers University. After a successful college career there, Carson was drafted by the New York Liberty with the 7th overall pick in the 2008 WNBA draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristi Toliver</span> American-Slovak basketball player

Kristi Renee Toliver is an American-Slovak professional basketball player for the Washington Mystics of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the associate head coach for the Phoenix Mercury. During her rookie season in the WNBA, Toliver signed an endorsement deal with Nike.

The 2009 Los Angeles Sparks season is the 13th season for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association. Lisa Leslie announced that the 2009 season would be her last. On June 5, the Sparks and Farmers Insurance Group of Companies announced a multi-year marketing partnership that includes a branded jersey sponsorship. The Farmers Insurance branded jersey will be worn by the players for the first time on June 6. As part of this alliance, the Farmers Insurance name and logo will appear on the front of the Sparks jerseys and will have considerable visibility in the Staples Center during home games. Los Angeles became only the second WNBA team to finalize such an agreement. The Sparks attempted to reach the playoffs and were successful.

The 2010 WNBA season is the 14th season for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association.

The 2013 WNBA season was the 17th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. The regular season began on May 24, and playoffs concluded on October 10. The Minnesota Lynx won their second league championship, defeating the Atlanta Dream three games to none in the 2013 WNBA Finals. The year represented a positive turning point for the long-struggling league. Both attendance and television viewership were up, driven by an influx of talented rookies, multiple teams reported that they were near a break-even point, and at least one franchise announced that it was profitable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chiney Ogwumike</span> American basketball player

Chinenye "Chiney" Ogwumike is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). In 2020, she became the first Black woman and the first WNBA player to host a national radio show for ESPN. She was one of the first and youngest commentators ever to be named an NBA analyst for the network covering the NBA, WNBA, and variety of sports, while simultaneously playing in the WNBA. Chiney is a graduate of Stanford University, where she majored in International relations. She played in three Final Fours and finished as the conference leader in scoring and rebounding as of January 3, 2014. As of 2016, Ogwumike was elected Vice-President of the WNBA Players Association, and signed an endorsement deal with Adidas. In May 2018, Ogwumike signed a multi-year contract with ESPN to become a full-time basketball analyst.

The 2013 WNBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game that was played on July 27, 2013, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT, the current home of the Connecticut Sun. This was the 11th edition of the WNBA All-Star Game, and was played during the 2013 WNBA season. This was the third time the event had been held in Connecticut, the others being the 2005 and 2009 games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chelsea Gray</span> American basketball player (born 1992)

Chelsea Nichelle Gray is an American professional basketball player for the Las Vegas Aces of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was the eleventh pick in the 2014 WNBA draft. She missed the 2014 WNBA season due to injury, but she made her debut with the Sun in the 2015 WNBA season. Gray won her first title with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2016. She won her second title with the Las Vegas Aces in the 2022 WNBA Finals, where she was named Finals MVP, and a third title the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheyenne Parker (basketball)</span> American basketball player

Cheyenne Parker is an American professional basketball player for the Atlanta Dream of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

The 2018 WNBA season of the Minnesota Lynx was their 20th season in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The Lynx finished the 2017 season with a record of 27–7, finishing first in the Western Conference and qualifying for the playoffs, before ultimately beating Los Angeles in the WNBA Finals to win their league-tying best fourth championship.

The 2020 WNBA season was the 24th season of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The Washington Mystics were the defending champions. Planned changes to the league's schedule included an increase from 34 to 36 regular season games for each team, the introduction of a mid-season Commissioner's Cup tournament, and more games broadcast on ESPN and ABC. This was the first season under a new Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and the WNBA Players Association. However, on April 3, the season was indefinitely postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under a plan approved on June 15, the league began a shortened 22-game regular season at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, without fans present on July 25. A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces was named the league MVP. The Seattle Storm won the 2020 WNBA Finals over the Aces, and Breanna Stewart was named the Finals MVP.

The 2020 Chicago Sky season was the franchise's 15th season in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). This was the second season under head coach James Wade. The Sky did not improve on their previous season's record of 20–14, but entered the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

The 2020 Dallas Wings season was the franchise's 23rd season in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the 5th season for the franchise in Dallas. The regular season started on July 26, 2020, versus the Atlanta Dream. This will be the second season under head coach Brian Agler.

The 2020 WNBA season is the 22nd season for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association. The season began on July 26, 2020, versus the Connecticut Sun.

References

  1. ↑ "2020 Los Angeles Sparks Schedule". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Atlanta Dream Announce 2020 Schedule - Atlanta Dream". dream.wnba.com. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  3. ↑ "WNBA Statement Regarding the Start of the 2020 Regular Season". April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  4. ↑ "WNBA Announces Plan To Tip Off 2020 Season". WNBA. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  5. ↑ "WNBA announces plans for 2020 season to start late July in Florida". NBC Sports Washington. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Sparks Sign Kristi Toliver". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. February 10, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Sparks Acquire Brittney Sykes and Marie Gülich from Atlanta Dream". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. February 10, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Sparks Re-Sign Tierra Ruffin-Pratt". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. February 11, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Sparks Sign Four-Time WNBA Champion Seimone Augustus". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Sparks Acquire 2021 Second Round Pick from Dallas Wings". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. February 21, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Sparks Re-Sign All-WNBA Guard Chelsea Gray". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. February 28, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Sparks Sign Sydney Wiese To Contract Extension". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. May 15, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Sparks Acquire Kristine Anigwe from Dallas Wings". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. May 26, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Kristi Toliver To Opt Out of 2020 WNBA Season". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. June 26, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Chiney Ogwumike To Opt Out of 2020 WNBA Season". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. June 26, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Sparks Sign Reshanda Gray". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. June 27, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Sparks Sign Rookie Te'a Cooper". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. June 28, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Vandersloot, Parker Garner Players Of The Week Honors For Week 4". wnba.com. WNBA. August 24, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Dallas' Ogunbowale, Los Angeles' Parker And Chicago's Vandersloot Earn 2020 WNBA Peak Performer Awards". wnba.com. WNBA. September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Candace Parker Named 2020 WNBA Defensive Player Of The Year". wnba.com. WNBA. September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Los Angeles' Nneka Ogwumike Wins 2020 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award". wnba.com. WNBA. September 29, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Two Atlanta Dream Players And Seattle Storm's Alysha Clark Headline 2020 WNBA All-Defensive Team". wnba.com. WNBA. September 29, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  23. ↑ "A'ja Wilson And Candace Parker Unanimously Selected To 2020 All-WNBA First Team". wnba.com. WNBA. October 4, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.