2016 Los Angeles Sparks season

2016 Los Angeles Sparks season
WNBA champions
CoachBrian Agler
ArenaStaples Center
Attendance9,638 per game
Results
Record26–8 (.765)
Place2nd (Western)
Playoff finishChampions
(Defeated Minnesota Lynx 3-2)
Team Leaders
PointsNneka Ogwumike – 19.7 ppg
ReboundsNneka Ogwumike – 9.1 rpg
AssistsCandace Parker – 4.9 apg
Media
TelevisionTime 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]

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

See also: 2016 WNBA draft

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

Round Pick Player Nationality WNBA Team School/Team/Country
2 15 Whitney Knight  United States Los Angeles Sparks from Connecticut Sun Florida Gulf Coast
2 23 Brianna Butler  United States Los Angeles Sparks from Connecticut Sun Syracuse
3 29 Talia Walton  United States Los Angeles Sparks Washington

Trades and Roster Changes

Date Transaction
February 11, 2016 Signed Candace Parker[3]
February 17, 2016 Signed Nneka Ogwumike[4]
March 1, 2016 Acquired 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, 2016 Signed Essence Carson[6]
April 14, 2016 Acquired 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, 2016 Waived Talia Walton
August 30, 2016 Waived Whitney Knight[8]

Roster

2016 Los Angeles Sparks roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Height Weight DOB From Yrs
G/F 0 United States Beard, Alana 6' 1" (1.85m) 160 lb (73kg) 05-14-1982 Duke 12
F 10 Russia Belyakova, Evgeniya 6' 0" (1.83m) 150 lb (68kg) 06-27-1986 Russia R
G/F 17 United States Carson, Essence 6' 0" (1.83m) 163 lb (74kg) 07-28-1986 Rutgers 8
G 23 Serbia Dabović, Ana 6' 0" (1.83m) 157 lb (71kg) 08-18-1989 Serbia 1
F 28 Montenegro Dubljević, Jelena 6' 3" (1.91m) 179 lb (81kg) 05-07-1987 Montenegro R
G 12 United States Gray, Chelsea 5' 11" (1.8m) 170 lb (77kg) 10-08-1992 Duke 1
F/C 7 France Gruda, Sandrine 6' 4" (1.93m) 185 lb (84kg) 06-25-1987 France 4
C 42 United States Lavender, Jantel 6' 4" (1.93m) 185 lb (84kg) 11-12-1988 Ohio State 5
F 30 United States Ogwumike, Nneka 6' 2" (1.88m) 174 lb (79kg) 07-02-1990 Stanford 4
F/C 3 United States Parker, Candace 6' 4" (1.93m) 175 lb (79kg) 04-19-1986 Tennessee 8
G 20 United States Toliver, Kristi 5' 7" (1.7m) 130 lb (59kg) 01-27-1987 Maryland 7
C 21 Belgium Wauters, Ann 6' 4" (1.93m) 193 lb (88kg) 10-12-1980 Belgium 8
Head coach
United States Brian Agler (Wittenberg)
Assistant coaches
United States Tonya Edwards (Tennessee)
United States Amber Stocks (Cincinnati)
Athletic trainer
United States Courtney Watson (California)
Strength and conditioning coach
United States Kelly Dormandy (Springfield College)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured 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)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 May 7 Atlanta W 88–80 Candace Parker (22) Rebecca Tobin (10) Gray, Dabović (4) Pasadena College
460 		1–0
2 May 9 @ San Antonio W 77–70 Chelsea Gray (18) Chelsea Gray (6) Ana Dabović (7) AT&T Center
2,307 		2–0
3 May 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)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 May 15 Seattle W 96–66 Candace Parker (34) Nneka Ogwumike (7) Parker, Toliver (4) Staples Center
10,591		 1–0
2 May 20 @ Washington W 97–67 Kristi Toliver (19) Candace Parker (9) Candace Parker (6) Verizon Center
7,807		 2–0
3 May 21 @ New York W 79–72 Nneka Ogwumike (25) Nneka Ogwumike (15) Dabović, Parker, Toliver (3) Madison Square Garden
9,417		 3–0
4 May 24 @ Chicago W 93–80 Candace Parker (26) Ogwumike, Parker (9) Kristi Toliver (10) Allstate Arena
5,554		 4–0
5 May 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)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
6 June 2 San Antonio W 68–61 Nneka Ogwumike (21) Nneka Ogwumike (10) Candace Parker (7) Staples Center
8,341		 6–0
7 June 4 @ San Antonio W 74–61 Candace Parker (15) Kristi Toliver (7) Gray, Lavender (3) AT&T Center
5,403		 7–0
8 June 7 New York W 100–77 Jantel Lavender (22) Nneka Ogwumike (10) Chelsea Gray (6) Staples Center
7,103		 8–0
9 June 11 @ Dallas W 97–73 Nneka Ogwumike (32) Nneka Ogwumike (10) Candace Parker (6) College Park Center
5,061		 9–0
10 June 14 Chicago W 98–85 Nneka Ogwumike (27) Nneka Ogwumike (12) Alana Beard (6) Staples Center
7,348		 10–0
11 June 17 Phoenix W 77–71 Candace Parker (24) Candace Parker (11) Nneka Ogwumike (5) Staples Center
8,964		 11–0
12 June 21 Minnesota L 69–72 Kristi Toliver (20) Candace Parker (8) Candace Parker (6) Staples Center
9,112		 11–1
13 June 24 @ Minnesota W 94–76 Kristi Toliver (25) Ogwumike, Parker (9) Alana Beard (7) Target Center
13,003		 12–1
14 June 26 Connecticut W 80–73 Nneka Ogwumike (27) Kristi Toliver (8) Kristi Toliver (5) Staples Center
9,441		 13–1
15 June 28 Dallas W 89–84 Candace Parker (31) Candace Parker (13) Candace Parker (7) Staples Center
7,823		 14–1
16 June 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)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
17 July 3 New York W 77–67 Nneka Ogwumike (22) Nneka Ogwumike (15) Kristi Toliver (6) Staples Center
10,003		 16–1
18 July 6 Indiana W 94–88 Nneka Ogwumike (23) Jantel Lavender (7) Chelsea Gray (8) Staples Center
8,224		 17–1
19 July 10 Washington W 93–82 Candace Parker (26) Candace Parker (11) Candace Parker (9) Staples Center
19,076		 18–1
20 July 13 @ Chicago W 77–67 Nneka Ogwumike (20) Nneka Ogwumike (11) Candace Parker (9) Allstate Arena
16,444		 19–1
21 July 15 @ Connecticut W 98–92 Jantel Lavender (25) Lavender, Ogwumike (10) Candace Parker (7) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,430		 20–1
22 July 17 @ Atlanta L 74–91 Nneka Ogwumike (26) Nneka Ogwumike (12) Candace Parker (5) Philips Arena
7,551		 20–2
23 July 19 @ Indiana L 82–92 Kristi Toliver (18) Nneka Ogwumike (14) Nneka Ogwumike (7) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
7,269		 20–3
24 July 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)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
25 August 26 @ Seattle L 72–79 Nneka Ogwumike (28) Candace Parker (10) Candace Parker (6) KeyArena
9,481		 21–4
26 August 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)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
27 September 1 @ San Antonio W 70–61 Kristi Toliver (21) Beard, Ogwumike (9) Parker, Toliver (6) AT&T Center
3,992		 22–5
28 September 2 @ Dallas W 87–79 Nneka Ogwumike (28) Nneka Ogwumike (12) Candace Parker (5) College Park Center
5,176		 23–5
29 September 4 Indiana W 88–81 Nneka Ogwumike (21) Nneka Ogwumike (6) Nneka Ogwumike (8) Staples Center
11,332		 24–5
30 September 6 Minnesota L 74–77 Nneka Ogwumike (19) Ogwumike, Parker (8) Candace Parker (7) Staples Center
7,224		 24–6
31 September 8 Atlanta L 81–86 Carson, Gray, Parker (16) Nneka Ogwumike (8) Ana Dabović (5) Staples Center
6,152		 24–7
32 September 11 @ Seattle L 60–78 Candace Parker (20) Candace Parker (10) Alana Beard (4) KeyArena
9,348		 24–8
33 September 13 Phoenix W 90–85 Nneka Ogwumike (24) Nneka Ogwumike (10) Kristi Toliver (7) Staples Center
9,371		 25–8
34 September 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
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 September 28 Chicago W 95–75 Candace Parker (30) Nneka Ogwumike (10) Nneka Ogwumike (6) Walter Pyramid
3,894 		1–0
2 September 30 Chicago W 99–84 Lavender, Parker (20) Candace Parker (12) Candace Parker (8) Staples Center
7,855 		2–0
3 October 2 @ Chicago L 66–70 Nneka Ogwumike (22) Candace Parker (15) Candace Parker (6) Allstate Arena
5,018 		2–1
4 October 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
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 October 9 @ Minnesota W 78–76 Ogwumike, Toliver (19) Ogwumike, Parker (9) Chelsea Gray (4) Target Center
12,113		 1–0
2 October 11 @ Minnesota L 60–79 Nneka Ogwumike (14) Nneka Ogwumike (12) Beard, Carson, Parker (3) Target Center
12,832		 1–1
3 October 14 Minnesota W 92–75 Candace Parker (24) Ogwumike, Parker (9) Alana Beard (7) Galen Center
8,093		 2–1
4 October 16 Minnesota L 79–85 Chelsea Gray (20) Nneka Ogwumike (8) Alana Beard (4) Staples Center
12,885		 2–2
5 October 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 28 6 .824 — 15–2 13–4 15–1
2 - Los Angeles Sparks 26 8 .765 2 14–3 12–5 11–5
7 - Seattle Storm 16 18 .471 12 10–7 6–11 7–9
8 - Phoenix Mercury 16 18 .471 12 11–6 5–12 6–10
e - Dallas Wings 11 23 .324 17 6–11 5–12 8–8
e - San Antonio Stars 7 27 .206 21 4–13 3–14 1–15

Playoffs

See also: 2016 WNBA 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.

See also: 2016 WNBA Finals
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)
1Minnesota Lynx1139682
3New York Liberty948Phoenix Mercury958667
5Indiana Fever788Phoenix Mercury1011Minnesota Lynx7679758576
8Phoenix Mercury892Los Angeles Sparks7860927977
2Los Angeles Sparks95996695
4Chicago Sky1084Chicago Sky75847075
6Atlanta Dream946Atlanta Dream98
7Seattle Storm85

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

Statistics

Legend
  GP Games 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 game Team leader League leader

Regular season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Nneka Ogwumike 33 33 31.6 66.5% 61.5% 86.9% 9.1 3.1 1.3 1.2 19.7
Candace Parker 34 34 30.8 44.2% 38.2% 70.7% 7.4 4.9 1.4 1.0 15.3
Kristi Toliver 33 33 32.1 42.6% 42.4% 88.9% 2.6 3.7 0.8 0.1 13.2
Jantel Lavender 34 0 19.4 53.8% 0.0% 68.3% 3.6 1.3 0.3 0.5 9.6
Essence Carson 34 34 23.3 44.9% 35.9% 89.1% 2.0 1.5 1.1 0.2 8.1
Alana Beard 34 34 29.3 46.7% 34.2% 69.2% 3.3 2.1 1.7 0.6 7.1
Chelsea Gray 33 1 16.4 45.2% 30.4% 78.0% 1.8 2.2 0.5 0.1 5.9
Ana Dabović 22 0 10.7 37.0% 15.8% 75.9% 0.8 1.3 0.6 0.0 3.0
Evgeniya Belyakova 21 0 11.3 29.6% 17.9% 43.8% 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.0 2.1
Jelena Dubljević 15 0 5.3 40.9% 33.3% 100% 0.9 0.5 0.1 0.1 1.5
Ann Wauters 21 1 4.6 54.5% — 75.0% 1.1 0.4 0.2 0.1 1.4
Sandrine Gruda 7 0 5.3 33.3% — 100% 0.6 0.3 0.1 0.1 1.0
Whitney Knight 7 0 3.9 20.0% 28.6% — 0.4 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.9

Playoffs

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Candace Parker 9 9 33.0 46.9% 31.3% 77.8% 8.7 3.2 1.7 1.9 19.3
Nneka Ogwumike 9 9 31.3 62.5% 22.2% 76.3% 9.3 2.6 2.0 1.1 17.9
Kristi Toliver 9 9 32.2 40.5% 41.4% 85.2% 2.0 3.0 1.4 0.1 12.8
Chelsea Gray 9 0 22.1 40.6% 39.1% 83.3% 1.7 2.8 1.1 0.0 9.0
Alana Beard 9 9 31.1 45.6% 50.0% 77.8% 3.8 3.7 1.1 0.4 8.0
Jantel Lavender 9 0 15.6 60.7% 0.0% — 2.3 1.0 0.0 0.1 7.6
Essence Carson 9 9 25.2 33.3% 25.8% 50.0% 2.3 1.2 0.4 0.1 6.7
Jelena Dubljević 2 0 3.0 50.0% — — 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0
Ann Wauters 2 0 2.5 50.0% — — 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.0
Ana Dabović 6 0 8.0 7.1% 14.3% 100% 0.3 2.0 0.2 0.0 0.8
Sandrine Gruda 6 0 2.8 — — — 0.8 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.2
Evgeniya Belyakova 3 0 2.7 0.0% 0.0% — 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0

Awards and honors

Recipient Award Date awarded Ref.
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]

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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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.