LOS ANGELES — The Sparks have several looming questions ahead of the team’s season opener on Friday when they host Brittney Griner, Diana Taurasi, and the Phoenix Mercury to tip off their WNBA season on ESPN.
1. Will the Sparks make the playoffs?
After missing the postseason for two straight years (2021, 2022) for the first time since the franchise’s first two years in the league (1997, 1998), and finishing last year with a 13-23 record, Sparks fans desperately want (and need) their team to make the playoffs. It only requires a top-eight finish in the 12-team league to reach the postseason for the first time since 2020, the WNBA’s bubble season in Bradenton, Florida.
No current Sparks were active the last time the team made it to and subsequently lost in the second round to the Connecticut Sun and then-Coach Curt Miller, who is now the Sparks’ head coach.
Sparks forward Nneka Oguwmike, a seven-time All-Star, and the 2016 WNBA Most Valuable Player, is the only current player who played for the franchise that season, but Ogwumike did not play in the one-and-done playoff loss due to a migraine.
“We’re only concerned about us and getting better and it’s anyone’s goal to make the playoffs,” said Sparks veteran point guard Jordin Canada, a former UCLA and Windward High School star. “Like we say in the huddle and we say every day, we have to focus on each other and we have to focus on how the Sparks can get better and if we do that then we’ll get to the playoffs.”
2. How many Sparks will be 2023 WNBA All-Stars?
The Sparks currently have five former All-Stars on their 2023 roster. Guards Jasmine Thomas and Layshia Clarendon (both 2017 All-Stars), two-time All-Star forwards Dearica Hamby (2021, 2022) and Chiney Ogwumike (2014, 2018) and seven-time All-Star forward Nneka Ogwumike (2013-2015, 2017-2019, 2022).
Nneka Ogwumike is their leading candidate to be named a 2023 All-Star.
Hamby, who is expected to play on Friday after giving birth in March, wholeheartedly believes in the Sparks’ frontcourt.
“There are three former All-Stars,” Hamby said. “We’re all similar in mobility, great leadership. Chiney and Nneka are staple players in this league, good people, and Azurá when she gets back healthy, I think we have a lot of mobility. We’re very versatile.”
3. Will Azurá Stevens become a franchise player?
The 6-foot-6 Stevens, the team’s only player taller than 6-3, is an intriguing figure. She’s a center with the ability to handle the ball, shoot from 3-point range, rebound and score inside. Stevens was the team’s marquee free agent acquisition in February after helping the Chicago Sky win the 2021 league title.
According to Her Hoop Stats, Stevens is the team’s highest-paid player (along with Thomas) but she’s only averaged 9.0 points and 4.4 rebounds in 21.1 minutes per game through her first five seasons with Dallas and Chicago while enduring occasional foot and knee injuries.
If the 27-year-old, who has missed both of the Sparks’ preseason games, can consistently play more than 25 minutes, she could emerge as a star.
Stevens said former Sparks star Candace Parker gave her one last assist, which actually encouraged her to sign with Los Angeles.
“Candace is a great mentor of mine and a great friend. … She talked really highly of a lot of people in the organization and she definitely kind of helped me make my decision, so I’m grateful to her for that.”
