2019 Los Angeles Sparks season

2019 Los Angeles Sparks season
CoachDerek Fisher
ArenaStaples Center
Attendance11,306 per game
Results
Record28–6 (.824)
Place1st (Western)
Playoff finish3rd seed, Lost in Semifinals to Connecticut, 0-3
Team Leaders
PointsCandace Parker – 19.9 ppg
ReboundsJantel Lavender – 7.9 rpg
AssistsChelsea Gray – 5.9 apg
Media
TelevisionSpectrum SportsNet
ESPN2, CBSSN, NBATV

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

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

See also: 2019 WNBA draft
Round Pick Player Nationality School/Team/Country
1 7 Kalani Brown  United States Baylor
2 19 Marina Mabrey  United States Notre Dame
3 31 Ángela Salvadores  Spain Ensino (Spain)

Trades/Roster Changes

Date Details
February 1, 2019 Re-signed G Karlie Samuelson[5][6]
Re-signed G Odyssey Sims[5][7]
February 6, 2019 Signed F Ashley Walker[8][9]
February 11, 2019 Re-signed G/F Alana Beard[10][11]
February 13, 2019 Signed G/F Tierra Ruffin-Pratt[12]
February 20, 2019 Signed G Alina Iagupova[13]
March 5, 2019 Signed C Rachel Hollivay[14]
March 28, 2019 Signed G Loryn Goodwin[15]
April 12, 2019 Signed G Gabby Green[16]
April 22, 2019 Traded G Odyssey Sims to Minnesota in exchange for G Alexis Jones[17]
April 27, 2019 Traded their first-round pick in the 2020 WNBA draft to Connecticut in exchange for F Chiney Ogwumike[18]
April 30, 2019 Re-signed G Chelsea Gray[19]
May 13, 2019 Claimed G Cierra Dillard off Waivers[20]
Waived G Gabby Green and G Gabby Green[21]
May 15, 2019 Re-signed G Riquna Williams[22]
May 20, 2019 Traded 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
Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Height Weight DOB From Yrs
G/F 0 United States Beard, Alana 5' 11" (1.8m) 160 lb (73kg) 05-14-1982 Duke 13
C 21 United States Brown, Kalani 6' 7" (2.01m) 245 lb (111kg) 03-21-1997 Baylor R
G 12 United States Gray, Chelsea 5' 11" (1.8m) 170 lb (77kg) 10-08-1992 Duke 4
G 1 United States Jones, Alexis 5' 9" (1.75m) 173 lb (78kg) 05-08-1994 Baylor 2
G 5 United States Mabrey, Marina 5' 11" (1.8m) 170 lb (77kg) 09-14-1996 Notre Dame R
F 30 United States Ogwumike, Nneka 6' 2" (1.88m) 174 lb (79kg) 07-02-1990 Stanford 7
F 13 United States Ogwumike, Chiney 6' 4" (1.93m) 173 lb (78kg) 05-22-1992 Stanford 3
F/C 3 United States Parker, Candace 6' 4" (1.93m) 175 lb (79kg) 04-19-1986 Tennessee 11
G 10 United States Ruffin-Pratt, Tierra 5' 11" (1.8m) 180 lb (82kg) 04-11-1991 North Carolina 6
C 7 Russia Vadeeva, Maria 6' 4" (1.93m) 185 lb (84kg) 06-16-1998 Russia 1
G 24 United States Wiese, Sydney 6' 0" (1.83m) 165 lb (75kg) 06-16-1995 Oregon State 2
G 2 United States Williams, Riquna 5' 7" (1.7m) 165 lb (75kg) 05-28-1990 Miami (FL) 6
Head coach
United States Derek Fisher (Little Rock)
Assistant coaches
United States Latricia Trammell (East Central)
United States Fred Williams (Boise State)
Athletic trainer
United States Courtney Watson (California)
Strength and conditioning coach
United States Kelly Dormandy (Springfield)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Game log

Preseason

2019 pre-season game log
May: 1–1 (Home: 0–0; Road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 May 11 @ Phoenix Mercury L 75–82 Walker (16) Tied (7) Jones (5) Talking Stick Resort Arena
3,751 		0–1
2 May 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)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 May 26 @ Las Vegas Aces L 70–83 Vadeeva (24) N. Ogwumike (11) 3 tied (4) Mandalay Bay Events Center
7,249 		0–1
2 May 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)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
3 June 4 @ New York Liberty W 78–73 Gray (29) C. Ogwumike (10) Gray (4) Westchester County Center
3,579 		2–1
4 June 6 @ Connecticut Sun L 77–89 N. Ogwumike (21) N. Ogwumike (10) Gray (6) Mohegan Sun Arena
5,496 		2–2
5 June 8 @ Minnesota Lynx W 89–85 Williams (25) Tied (9) Ruffin-Pratt (5) Target Center
8,834 		3–2
6 June 14 @ Phoenix Mercury W 85–65 Gray (21) N. Ogwumike (8) Gray (9) Talking Stick Resort Arena
10,381 		4–2
7 June 15 New York Liberty L 92–98 C. Ogwumike (26) C. Ogwumike (14) Gray (6) Staples Center
11,388 		4–3
8 June 18 Washington Mystics L 52–81 Tied (12) Tied (7) Parker (3) Staples Center
9,537 		4–4
9 June 21 @ Seattle Storm L 62–84 N. Ogwumike (10) C. Ogwumike (6) 4 tied (2) Angel of the Winds Arena
6,114 		4–5
10 June 23 @ Phoenix Mercury L 72–82 Tied (12) N. Ogwumike (13) Gray (7) Talking Stick Resort Arena
10,132 		4–6
11 June 27 Las Vegas Aces W 86–74 3 tied (18) C. Ogwumike (10) Gray (6) Staples Center
10,295 		5–6
12 June 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)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
13 July 7 Washington Mystics W 98–81 N. Ogwumike (31) Tied (10) Gray (13) Staples Center
10,336 		7–6
14 July 9 @ Dallas Wings L 62–74 N. Ogwumike (15) Tied (10) Gray (4) College Park Center
6,885 		7–7
15 July 12 @ Indiana Fever W 90–84 N. Ogwumike (22) C. Ogwumike (9) Gray (6) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
7,849 		8–7
16 July 14 @ Atlanta Dream W 76–71 (OT) Williams (23) N. Ogwumike (15) Gray (9) State Farm Arena
5,083 		9–7
17 July 18 Dallas Wings W 69–64 N. Ogwumike (22) Gray (9) Gray (4) Staples Center
14,050 		10–7
18 July 20 @ New York Liberty L 78–83 N. Ogwumike (20) N. Ogwumike (12) Wiese (6) Westchester County Center
2,195 		10–8
19 July 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)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
20 August 1 Las Vegas Aces W 76–68 N. Ogwumike (19) N. Ogwumike (11) Gray (10) Staples Center
11,692 		12–8
21 August 4 Seattle Storm W 83–75 Parker (21) N. Ogwumike (10) Gray (8) Staples Center
12,820 		13–8
22 August 8 Phoenix Mercury W 84–74 N. Ogwumike (24) Parker (11) Parker (6) Staples Center
10,345 		14–8
23 August 11 Chicago Sky W 84–81 Gray (26) N. Ogwumike (12) Gray (6) Staples Center
9,244 		15–8
24 August 14 @ Dallas Wings L 78–84 Gray (22) N. Ogwumike (9) Gray (7) College Park Center
5,004 		15–9
25 August 16 @ Chicago Sky L 81–91 Gray (25) N. Ogwumike (7) Tied (5) Wintrust Arena
7,907 		15–10
26 August 20 Minnesota Lynx W 81–71 Parker (20) Parker (10) N. Ogwumike (4) Staples Center
 16–10
27 August 22 Indiana Fever W 98–65 N. Ogwumike (17) Tied (7) Parker (5) Staples Center
8,816 		17–10
28 August 25 Connecticut Sun W 84–72 Williams (21) N. Ogwumike (8) Gray (6) Staples Center
17,076 		18–10
29 August 27 @ Washington Mystics L 66–95 Tied (12) Vadeeva (7) Gray (7) St. Elizabeth's East Arena
4,200 		18–11
30 August 29 @ Indiana Fever W 87–83 Gray (30) N. Ogwumike (8) Gray (9) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
5,641 		19–11
31 August 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)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
32 September 3 Atlanta Dream W 70–60 Parker (21) Parker (11) Parker (6) Staples Center
9,889 		20–12
33 September 5 Seattle Storm W 102–68 Parker (20) N. Ogwumike (10) Gray (7) Staples Center
10,591 		21–12
34 September 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)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 September 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)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 September 17 @ Connecticut Sun L 75–84 Parker (24) Tied (10) Gray (4) Mohegan Sun Arena
7,102 		0–1
2 September 19 @ Connecticut Sun L 68–94 N. Ogwumike (18) N. Ogwumike (7) Gray (5) Mohegan Sun Arena
8,051 		0–2
3 September 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) 22 12 .647 – 15–2 7–10 10–6
2 Las Vegas Aces (4) 21 13 .618 1 13–4 8–9 11–5
3 Seattle Storm (6) 18 16 .529 4 11–6 7–10 10–6
4 Minnesota Lynx (7) 18 16 .529 4 11–6 7–10 7–9
5 Phoenix Mercury (8) 15 19 .441 7 9–8 6–11 5–11
6 e – Dallas Wings 10 24 .294 12 8–9 2–15 5–11

Playoffs

Main article: 2019 WNBA 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)
1Washington Mystics971037594
4Las Vegas Aces934Las Vegas Aces95919290
5Chicago Sky1055Chicago Sky921Washington Mystics9587948689
8Phoenix Mercury762Connecticut Sun8699819078
2Connecticut Sun849478
3Los Angeles Sparks923Los Angeles Sparks756856
6Seattle Storm846Seattle Storm69
7Minnesota Lynx74

Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

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 32 32 27.9 51.0 33.8 82.8 8.8 1.8 1.9 0.5 16.1
Chelsea Gray 34 34 32.6 41.6 38.2 91.7 3.8 5.9 1.0 0.1 14.5
Riquna Williams 23 14 25.8 38.4 39.1 88.0 2.6 1.6 1.1 0.2 12.3
Candace Parker 22 22 26.0 42.2 46.7 79.1 6.4 3.5 1.0 0.8 11.2
Chiney Ogwumike 32 14 21.8 49.4 25.0 80.9 5.8 0.8 1.0 0.7 9.6
Maria Vadeeva 15 1 12.0 49.0 31.3 76.9 3.9 0.7 1.0 0.2 7.8
Tierra Ruffin-Pratt 34 33 25.2 36.7 34.2 85.4 2.4 1.7 0.8 0.6 6.0
Kalani Brown 28 0 13.5 47.8 0 78.3 3.5 0.6 0.3 0.8 5.4
Sydney Wiese 32 16 20.6 38.5 36.6 100 1.3 1.8 0.5 0.3 4.8
Alexis Jones 20 1 12.2 40.0 33.3 80.0 1.1 1.8 0.3 0.2 4.0
Marina Mabrey 31 0 11.5 34.4 27.3 87.5 1.2 1.0 0.6 0.2 4.0
Alana Beard 16 3 14.7 44.9 20.0 77.8 1.5 1.4 0.8 0.2 3.3

Awards and honors

Recipient Award Date awarded Ref.
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]
Candice Parker WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week August 5, 2019 [27]
Nneka Ogwumike August 12, 2019 [28]
Candice 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. ^ a b "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.