2021 Los Angeles Sparks season

2021 Los Angeles Sparks season
CoachDerek Fisher
ArenaLos Angeles Convention Center
Staples Center
Attendance1,221 per game
Results
Record12–20 (.375)
Place6th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Team Leaders
PointsNneka Ogwumike – 14.5 ppg
ReboundsNneka Ogwumike – 6.5 rpg
AssistsErica Wheeler – 4.8 apg
Media
TelevisionSpectrum SportsNet
ESPN2, CBSSN, NBATV

The 2021 WNBA season was the 25th season for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association. The season tipped off on May 14, 2021, versus the Dallas Wings.[1]

The Sparks split time in two arenas during the 2021 season. They played at the Los Angeles Convention Center from May until July and then played at the Staples Center after the league took its Olympic break.[2]

The Sparks started the season slowly, losing the first two games. However, they won the next two to finish May with a 2–2 record. June proved difficult, as the team couldn't sustain a winning streak, as wins were followed by two losses frequently. They finished June 4–7 and 6–9 overall. The Sparks went into the Olympic break on a low note when they lost all four games in July. After the break, a favorable schedule contributed to a four-game winning streak to begin the August schedule, with wins over Indiana and Atlanta who finished in the bottom two of the final regular season standings. Once the winning streak ended, the Sparks lost six straight games to slide to 10–19 going into the final three games of the season. Despite winning two of the last three, a final day loss meant the Sparks finished outside the playoff places with a 12–20 overall record.

Transactions

WNBA draft

See also: 2021 WNBA draft
Round Pick Player Nationality School/Team/Country
1 7 Jasmine Walker  United States Alabama
1 10 Stephanie Watts  United States North Carolina
2 22 Arella Guirantes  Puerto Rico Rutgers
3 28 Ivana Raca  Serbia Wake Forest
3 34 Aina Ayuso  Spain Casademont Zaragoza (Spain)

Trades/Roster Changes

Date Details
December 31, 2020 Renounced rights to G Ángela Salvadores[3]
January 6, 2021 Extended Qualifying Offers to G Brittney Sykes and C Marianna Tolo[4]
January 7, 2021 Extended Qualifying Offer to G Te'a Cooper[5]
January 11, 2021 Re-Signed G Te'a Cooper[6]
January 13, 2021 Cored F Nneka Ogwumike[7]
February 2, 2021 Signed G Erica Wheeler[8]
February 8, 2021 Re-Signed G Brittney Sykes[9]
February 11, 2021 Signed C Amanda Zahui B.[10]
February 19, 2021 Signed G Bria Holmes[11]
February 22, 2021 Re-Signed G/F Seimone Augustus[12]
February 25, 2021 Re-Signed F/C Chiney Ogwumike[13]
March 2, 2021 Re-Signed F Nneka Ogwumike[14]
March 4, 2021 Signed G Nia Coffey to a Training Camp Contract[15]
March 16, 2021 Waived C Marie Gülich[16]
April 14, 2021 Acquired the 7th pick in the 2021 WNBA draft and Dallas's 2md Round pick in the 2022 WNBA draft in exchange for the Sparks' 2022 1st Round pick.[17]
April 18, 2021 Waived G Tierra Ruffin-Pratt[18]
April 19, 2021 Signed G Stephanie Watts to a Rookie Scale Contract[19]
April 20, 2021 Signed F Jasmine Walker to a Rookie Scale Contract[20]
May 6, 2021 Signed G Arella Guirantes to a Rookie Scale Contract[21]
May 9, 2021 Traded G Stephanie Watts and the rights to G Leonie Fiebich to Chicago in exchange for G/F Gabby Williams[22]
May 13, 2021 G Seimone Augustus retires and is named an Assistant Coach[23]
Traded G Sydney Wiese to Washington in exchange for a 2022 2nd Round Pick.[24]
Waived F Kristine Anigwe.[25]
Temporarily Suspend C Maria Vadeeva.[26]
May 14, 2021 Signed G/F Gabby Williams to a Contract Extension[27]
June 4, 2021 Signed G Karlie Samuelson and C Kristine Anigwe to Hardship Contracts[28]
June 28, 2021 Released C Kristine Anigwe from the Hardship Contract and Waived G Bria Holmes[29]
June 29, 2021 Released G Karlie Samuelson from the Hardship Contract[30]
June 30, 2021 Signed C Lauren Cox[31]
Signed G Karlie Samuelson to a Hardship Contract[32]
Signed G Bria Holmes to a Hardship Contract[33]
August 3, 2021 Terminated the Hardship Contracts of Bria Holmes and Karlie Samuelson[34]
Signed G Karlie Samuelson to a 7-Day Contract[35]

Roster

2021 Los Angeles Sparks roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Height Weight DOB From Yrs
F 12 United States Coffey, Nia 6' 1" (1.85m) 182 lb (83kg) 1995-06-11 Northwestern 4
G 2 United States Cooper, Te'a 5' 8" (1.73m) 160 lb (73kg) 1997-04-16 Baylor 1
F 13 United States Cox, Lauren 6' 4" (1.93m) 205 lb (93kg) 1998-04-20 Baylor 1
G 22 Puerto Rico Guirantes, Arella 5' 11" (1.8m) 165 lb (75kg) 1997-10-15 Rutgers R
F 30 United States Ogwumike, Nneka 6' 2" (1.88m) 174 lb (79kg) 1990-07-02 Stanford 9
F/C 31 United States Ogwumike, Chiney 6' 3" (1.91m) 183 lb (83kg) 1992-03-21 Stanford 4
G 15 United States Sykes, Brittney 5' 9" (1.75m) 154 lb (70kg) 1994-02-07 Syracuse 4
G 20 United States Toliver, Kristi 5' 7" (1.7m) 130 lb (59kg) 1987-01-27 Maryland 11
C 7 Russia Vadeeva, Maria (S) 6' 4" (1.93m) 185 lb (84kg) 1998-07-16 Russia 2
F 40 United States Walker, Jasmine Injured 6' 3" (1.91m) 182 lb (83kg) 1998-02-03 Alabama R
G 17 United States Wheeler, Erica 5' 7" (1.7m) 143 lb (65kg) 1991-05-02 Rutgers 5
C 1 Sweden Zahui B., Amanda 6' 5" (1.96m) 184 lb (83kg) 1993-09-08 Minnesota 6
Head coach
United States Derek Fisher (Little Rock)
Assistant coaches
United States Latricia Trammell (East Central University)
United States Fred Williams (Boise State)
United States Seimone Augustus (LSU)
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

Game log

Preseason

2021 pre-season game log
May: 1–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 1–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 May 2 @ Las Vegas W 80–71 Scrimmage Michelob Ultra Arena
No Fans 		1–0
2 May 8 Las Vegas T 85–85 Jasmine Walker (23) Jasmine Walker (9) Wheeler
Cooper (5) 		Los Angeles Convention Center
No Fans 		1–0–1
2021 pre-season schedule

Regular season

2021 game log
Total: 12–20 (Home: 8–8; Road: 4–12)
May: 2–2 (Home: 0–1; Road: 2–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 May 14 Dallas L 71–94 Nneka Ogwumike (18) Nneka Ogwumike (8) Brittney Sykes (3) Los Angeles Convention Center
No Fans 		0–1
2 May 21 @ Las Vegas 69–97 Nneka Ogwumike (19) Guirantes
C. Ogwumike
N. Ogwumike (5) 		Kristi Toliver (5) Michelob Ultra Arena
1,972 		0–2
3 May 28 @ Chicago W 76–61 Nneka Ogwumike (14) Nneka Ogwumike (9) Erica Wheeler (6) Wintrust Arena
1,124 		1–2
4 May 30 @ Chicago W 82–79 Nneka Ogwumike (21) Nneka Ogwumike (9) Erica Wheeler (7) Wintrust Arena
1,124 		2–2
June : 4–7 (Home: 4–3; Road: 0–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
5 June 1 @ Dallas L 69–79 Kristi Toliver (14) Nia Coffey (6) Te'a Cooper (4) College Park Center
1,372 		2–3
6 June 3 Indiana W 98–63 Kristi Toliver (22) Holmes
Zahui B (7) 		Erica Wheeler (5) Los Angeles Convention Center
301 		3–3
7 June 5 Chicago W 68–63 Erica Wheeler (22) Amanda Zahui B (10) Erica Wheeler (5) Los Angeles Convention Center
430 		4–3
8 June 10 @ Washington L 71–89 Te'a Cooper (11) Kristine Anigwe (9) Erica Wheeler (4) Entertainment and Sports Arena
2,100 		4–4
9 June 12 @ Minnesota L 64–80 Te'a Cooper (17) Amanda Zahui B (8) Kristi Toliver (5) Target Center
2,203 		4–5
10 June 16 Phoenix W 85–80 Erica Wheeler (18) Brittney Sykes (9) Erica Wheeler (10) Los Angeles Convention Center
514 		5–5
11 June 18 Phoenix L 66–80 Erica Wheeler (17) Amanda Zahui B (6) Toliver
Wheeler (2) 		Los Angeles Convention Center
520 		5–6
12 June 20 New York L 73–76 Erica Wheeler (20) Erica Wheeler (6) Erica Wheeler (10) Los Angeles Convention Center
731 		5–7
13 June 24 Washington W 89–82 Te'a Cooper (26) Amanda Zahui B (5) Te'a Cooper (4) Los Angeles Convention Center
520 		6–7
14 June 26 @ Phoenix L 79–88 Erica Wheeler (21) Kristine Anigwe (9) Sykes
Wheeler (4) 		Phoenix Suns Arena
 6–8
15 June 30 Las Vegas L 75–99 Amanda Zahui B (22) Amanda Zahui B (9) Cooper
Wheeler (3) 		Los Angeles Convention Center
746 		6–9
July : 0–4 (Home: 0–3; Road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
16 July 2 Las Vegas L 58–66 Erica Wheeler (15) Amanda Zahui B (12) Erica Wheeler (5) Los Angeles Convention Center
959 		6–10
17 July 4 Seattle L 74–84 Sykes
Wheeler (19) 		Brittney Sykes (10) Sykes
Wheeler (5) 		Los Angeles Convention Center
716 		6–11
18 July 7 @ Seattle L 62–71 Erica Wheeler (22) Amanda Zahui B (9) Erica Wheeler (3) Angel of the Winds Arena
2,730 		6–12
19 July 11 Minnesota L 61–86 Sykes
Wheeler (14) 		Lauren Cox (8) Erica Wheeler (6) Los Angeles Convention Center
892 		6–13
August : 4–4 (Home: 3–0; Road: 1–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
20 August 15 Indiana W 75–70 Brittney Sykes (16) Amanda Zahui B (9) Toliver
Wheeler (6) 		Staples Center
2,029 		7–13
21 August 17 Atlanta W 85–80 (OT) Brittney Sykes (17) Nneka Ogwumike (9) Nneka Ogwumike (9) Staples Center
2,200 		8–13
22 August 19 Atlanta W 66–64 Nneka Ogwumike (17) Brittney Sykes (8) Kristi Toliver (5) Staples Center
1,885 		9–13
23 August 22 @ New York W 86–83 Erica Wheeler (17) Brittney Sykes (6) Nneka Ogwumike (6) Barclays Center
N/A 		10–13
24 August 24 @ Washington L 68–78 Nia Coffey (15) Chiney Ogwumike (8) Toliver
Sykes (3) 		Entertainment and Sports Arena
2,620 		10–14
25 August 26 @ Connecticut L 72–76 Nia Coffey (18) Brittney Sykes (7) Erica Wheeler (9) Mohegan Sun Arena
3,702 		10–15
26 August 28 @ Connecticut L 61–76 Erica Wheeler (15) Erica Wheeler (6) Erica Wheeler (7) Mohegan Sun Arena
4,434 		10–16
27 August 31 @ Indiana L 72–74 Nneka Ogwumike (17) Brittney Sykes (5) Erica Wheeler (7) Indiana Farmers Coliseum
N/A 		10–17
September : 2–3 (Home: 1–1; Road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
28 September 2 @ Minnesota L 57–66 N. Ogwumike
Wheeler (16) 		Nneka Ogwumike (10) Erica Wheeler (7) Target Center
3,121 		10–18
29 September 9 Connecticut L 57–75 Coffey
N. Ogwumike (12) 		Nneka Ogwumike (7) N. Ogwumike
Sykes
Wheeler (3) 		Staples Center
1,695 		10–19
30 September 12 Seattle W 81–53 Te'a Cooper (19) Brittney Sykes (10) Erica Wheeler (4) Staples Center
4,181 		11–19
31 September 16 @ Atlanta W 74–68 Brittney Sykes (17) Nneka Ogwumike (10) Erica Wheeler (4) Gateway Center Arena
2,537 		12–19
32 September 19 @ Dallas L 84–87 Te'a Cooper (24) Nneka Ogwumike (10) Erica Wheeler (7) College Park Center
3,604 		12–20
2021 season schedule

Standings

# Team W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
1 x – Connecticut Sun 26 6 .813 – 12–3 15–1 11–5 9–1
2 x – Las Vegas Aces 24 8 .750 2 11–4 13–3 11–5 6–4
3 x – Minnesota Lynx 22 10 .688 4 10–5 13–3 9–7 7–3
4 x – Seattle Storm 21 11 .656 5 9–6 11–5 10–6 8–2
5 x – Phoenix Mercury 19 13 .594 7 6–9 7–9 12–4 5–5
6 x – Chicago Sky 16 16 .500 10 10–5 6–10 10–6 6–4
7 x – Dallas Wings 14 18 .438 12 7–8 7–9 7–9 3–7
8 x – New York Liberty 12 20 .375 14 6–9 7–9 5–11 5–5
9 e – Washington Mystics 12 20 .375 14 7–8 8–8 4–12 4–6
10 e – Los Angeles Sparks 12 20 .375 14 2–13 8–8 4–12 1–9
11 e – Atlanta Dream 8 24 .250 18 6–9 4–12 4–12 4–6
12 e – Indiana Fever 6 26 .188 20 4–11 4–12 2–14 2–8

Notes

(#) – League Standing
x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings


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

Source:[36]

Regular Season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Nneka Ogwumike 18 18 31.7 53.2 36.7 80.0 6.5 2.7 1.4 0.3 14.5
Erica Wheeler 32 32 30.2 41.7 35.5 82.7 3.1 4.8 1.3 0.3 13.6
Kristi Toliver 19 19 27.6 41.4 33.7 84.2 1.4 2.9 0.7 0.0 9.4
Brittney Sykes 32 20 29.3 40.5 26.2 77.2 4.6 2.2 1.8 0.5 9.4
Amanda Zahui B 30 27 23.8 42.7 28.0 76.7 5.1 1.0 0.6 1.2 9.2
Te'a Cooper 31 13 22.0 37.9 32.4 75.0 1.7 1.4 0.9 0.2 9.1
Nia Coffey 32 17 25.2 42.1 41.7 77.8 3.8 0.9 0.8 1.2 8.3
Chiney Ogwumike 7 3 19.1 40.8 75.0 75.0 4.1 1.1 0.9 0.4 7.0
Lauren Cox 15 0 14.0 41.3 20.0 77.8 3.7 0.6 0.7 0.9 3.5
Arella Guirantes 25 2 11.6 27.4 22.2 80.8 1.3 0.6 0.3 0.2 3.2
Jasmine Walker 2 0 10.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.5 0.0
Maria Vadeeva 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Awards and honors

Recipient Award Date awarded Ref.
Brittney Sykes WNBA All-Defensive First Team September 26 [37]
Nneka Ogwumike Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award October 3 [38]

References

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  2. ^ "LA Sparks Announce 2021 Preseason Schedule". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. April 27, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  3. ^ "WNBA Transactions". wnba.com. WNBA. December 31, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  4. ^ "WNBA Transactions". wnba.com. WNBA. January 6, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  5. ^ "WNBA Transactions". wnba.com. WNBA. January 7, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  6. ^ "Sparks Re-Sign Te'a Cooper". wnba.com. WNBA. January 11, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  7. ^ "Sparks core Nneka Ogwumike". thenext.substack.com. The Next. January 14, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  8. ^ "Sparks Sign All-Star Guard Erica Wheeler". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. February 2, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  9. ^ "Sparks Re-Sign All-WNBA Defender Brittney Sykes". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. February 8, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  10. ^ "Sparks Sign Former No. 2 Overall Pick Amanda Zahui B." sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. February 11, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  11. ^ "Sparks Sign Bria Holmes". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. February 19, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  12. ^ "Sparks Re-Sign Four-Time WNBA Champion Seimone Augustus". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. February 22, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  13. ^ "Sparks Re-Sign Two-Time All-Star Chiney Ogwumike". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. February 25, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  14. ^ "Sparks Re-Sign WNBA Champion & MVP Nneka Ogwumike". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. March 2, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  15. ^ "Sparks Sign Nia Coffey". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. March 4, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  16. ^ "Sparks Tweet". twitter.com. Twitter. March 16, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  17. ^ "Sparks Acquire No. 7 Overall Pick in 2021 Draft". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. April 14, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  18. ^ "Sparks set 15-player training camp roster, waive Tierra Ruffin-Pratt". Los Angeles Times. April 19, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
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  22. ^ "After suspending Gabby Williams for the season, Sky trade her to Sparks for Stephanie Watts". CBS Sports. May 9, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
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  29. ^ "OFFICIAL: Kristine Anigwe and Bria Holmes have been waived". twitter.com. Twitter. June 28, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  30. ^ "Official: The Los Angeles Sparks terminated the hardship contract of Karlie Samuelson". twitter.com. Twitter. June 29, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  31. ^ "Sparks Sign 2020 No. 3 Overall Pick Lauren Cox". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. June 30, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  32. ^ "Sparks Re-Sign Karlie Samuelson". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. June 30, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  33. ^ "Sparks Re-Sign Bria Holmes". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. June 30, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  34. ^ "Sparks Terminate Hardship Contracts of Bria Holmes and Karlie Samuelson". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. August 3, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  35. ^ "Sparks Sign Karlie Samuelson to 7-Day Contract". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. August 3, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  36. ^ "Stats - Los Angeles Sparks". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  37. ^ Voepel, Mechelle (September 26, 2021). "Minnesota Lynx star Sylvia Fowles named WNBA Defensive Player of Year for 4th time in career". ESPN. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
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