2016 Los Angeles Sparks season

The 2016 Los Angeles Sparks 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.

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.

Transactions

WNBA draft

The Sparks made three selections in the 2016 WNBA Entry Draft in Uncasville, Connecticut: Round Pick Player Nationality WNBA Team School/Team/Country215Whitney Knight Los Angeles Sparks from Connecticut SunFlorida Gulf Coast223Brianna Butler Los Angeles Sparks from Connecticut SunSyracuse329Talia WaltonLos Angeles SparksWashington

Trades and Roster Changes DateTransaction February 11, 2016 Signed Candace Parker February 17, 2016 Signed Nneka Ogwumike 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. March 31, 2016 Signed Essence Carson 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.Los Angeles and Connecticut also trade second round positions in the 2016 WNBA Draft / May 11, 2016 Waived Talia Walton August 30, 2016 Waived Whitney Knight

Roster

Schedule

Pre-season

Regular season

|- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 1 || May 15 || Seattle || W 96–66 || Candace Parker (34) || Nneka Ogwumike (7) || Parker, Toliver (4) || Staples Center10,591 || 1–0 |- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 2 || May 20 || @ Washington || W 97–67 || Kristi Toliver (19) || Candace Parker (9) || Candace Parker (6) || Verizon Center7,807 || 2–0 |- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 3 || May 21 || @ New York || W 79–72 || Nneka Ogwumike (25) || Nneka Ogwumike (15) || Dabović, Parker, Toliver (3) || Madison Square Garden9,417 || 3–0 |- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 4 || May 24 || @ Chicago || W 93–80 || Candace Parker (26) || Ogwumike, Parker (9) || Kristi Toliver (10) || Allstate Arena5,554 || 4–0 |- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 5 || May 26 || @ Connecticut || W 77–72 || Candace Parker (22) || Nneka Ogwumike (11) || Ogwumike, Parker, Toliver (4) || Mohegan Sun Arena4,766 || 5–0

|- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 6 || June 2 || San Antonio || W 68–61 || Nneka Ogwumike (21) || Nneka Ogwumike (10) || Candace Parker (7) || Staples Center8,341 || 6–0 |- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 7 || June 4 || @ San Antonio || W 74–61 || Candace Parker (15) || Kristi Toliver (7) || Gray, Lavender (3) || AT&T Center5,403 || 7–0 |- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 8 || June 7 || New York || W 100–77 || Jantel Lavender (22) || Nneka Ogwumike (10) || Chelsea Gray (6) || Staples Center7,103 || 8–0 |- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 9 || June 11 || @ Dallas || W 97–73 || Nneka Ogwumike (32) || Nneka Ogwumike (10) || Candace Parker (6) || College Park Center5,061 || 9–0 |- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 10 || June 14 || Chicago || W 98–85 || Nneka Ogwumike (27) || Nneka Ogwumike (12) || Alana Beard (6) || Staples Center7,348 || 10–0 |- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 11 || June 17 || Phoenix || W 77–71 || Candace Parker (24) || Candace Parker (11) || Nneka Ogwumike (5) || Staples Center8,964 || 11–0 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 12 || June 21 || Minnesota || L 69–72 || Kristi Toliver (20) || Candace Parker (8) || Candace Parker (6) || Staples Center9,112 || 11–1 |- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 13 || June 24 || @ Minnesota || W 94–76 || Kristi Toliver (25) || Ogwumike, Parker (9) || Alana Beard (7) || Target Center13,003 || 12–1 |- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 14 || June 26 || Connecticut || W 80–73 || Nneka Ogwumike (27) || Kristi Toliver (8) || Kristi Toliver (5) || Staples Center9,441 || 13–1 |- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 15 || June 28 || Dallas || W 89–84 || Candace Parker (31) || Candace Parker (13) || Candace Parker (7) || Staples Center7,823 || 14–1 |- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 16 || June 30 || Atlanta || W 84–75 || Nneka Ogwumike (38) || Nneka Ogwumike (11) || Kristi Toliver (8) || Staples Center10,215 || 15–1

|- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 17 || July 3 || New York || W 77–67 || Nneka Ogwumike (22) || Nneka Ogwumike (15) || Kristi Toliver (6) || Staples Center10,003 || 16–1 |- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 18 || July 6 || Indiana || W 94–88 || Nneka Ogwumike (23) || Jantel Lavender (7) || Chelsea Gray (8) || Staples Center8,224 || 17–1 |- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 19 || July 10 || Washington || W 93–82 || Candace Parker (26) || Candace Parker (11) || Candace Parker (9) || Staples Center19,076 || 18–1 |- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 20 || July 13 || @ Chicago || W 77–67 || Nneka Ogwumike (20) || Nneka Ogwumike (11) || Candace Parker (9) || Allstate Arena16,444 || 19–1 |- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 21 || July 15 || @ Connecticut || W 98–92 || Jantel Lavender (25) || Lavender, Ogwumike (10) || Candace Parker (7) || Mohegan Sun Arena6,430 || 20–1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 22 || July 17 || @ Atlanta || L 74–91 || Nneka Ogwumike (26) || Nneka Ogwumike (12) || Candace Parker (5) || Philips Arena7,551 || 20–2 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 23 || July 19 || @ Indiana || L 82–92 || Kristi Toliver (18) || Nneka Ogwumike (14) || Nneka Ogwumike (7) || Bankers Life Fieldhouse7,269 || 20–3 |- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 24 || July 22 || @ Washington || W 95–75 || Nneka Ogwumike (24) || Nneka Ogwumike (14) || Candace Parker (6) || Verizon Center5,455 || 21–3

|- style="background:#fcc;" | 25 || August 26 || @ Seattle || L 72–79 || Nneka Ogwumike (28) || Candace Parker (10) || Candace Parker (6) || KeyArena9,481 || 21–4 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 26 || August 28 || @ Phoenix || L 66–70 || Candace Parker (25) || Candace Parker (13) || Candace Parker (7) || Talking Stick Resort Arena11,905 || 21–5

|- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 27 || September 1 || @ San Antonio || W 70–61 || Kristi Toliver (21) || Beard, Ogwumike (9) || Parker, Toliver (6) || AT&T Center3,992 || 22–5 |- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 28 || September 2 || @ Dallas || W 87–79 || Nneka Ogwumike (28) || Nneka Ogwumike (12) || Candace Parker (5) || College Park Center5,176 || 23–5 |- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 29 || September 4 || Indiana || W 88–81 || Nneka Ogwumike (21) || Nneka Ogwumike (6) || Nneka Ogwumike (8) || Staples Center11,332 || 24–5 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 30 || September 6 || Minnesota || L 74–77 || Nneka Ogwumike (19) || Ogwumike, Parker (8) || Candace Parker (7) || Staples Center7,224 || 24–6 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 31 || September 8 || Atlanta || L 81–86 || Carson, Gray, Parker (16) || Nneka Ogwumike (8) || Ana Dabović (5) || Staples Center6,152 || 24–7 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 32 || September 11 || @ Seattle || L 60–78 || Candace Parker (20) || Candace Parker (10) || Alana Beard (4) || KeyArena9,348 || 24–8 |- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 33 || September 13 || Phoenix || W 90–85 || Nneka Ogwumike (24) || Nneka Ogwumike (10) || Kristi Toliver (7) || Staples Center9,371 || 25–8 |- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 34 || September 16 || San Antonio || W 71–65 || Nneka Ogwumike (17) || Nneka Ogwumike (10) || Nneka Ogwumike (4) || Staples Center13,519 || 26–8

Playoffs

|- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 1 || October 9 || @ Minnesota || W 78–76 || Ogwumike, Toliver (19) || Ogwumike, Parker (9) || Chelsea Gray (4) || Target Center12,113 || 1–0 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 2 || October 11 || @ Minnesota || L 60–79 || Nneka Ogwumike (14) || Nneka Ogwumike (12) || Beard, Carson, Parker (3) || Target Center12,832 || 1–1 |- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 3 || October 14 || Minnesota || W 92–75 || Candace Parker (24) || Ogwumike, Parker (9) || Alana Beard (7) || Galen Center8,093 || 2–1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 4 || October 16 || Minnesota || L 79–85 || Chelsea Gray (20) || Nneka Ogwumike (8) || Alana Beard (4) || Staples Center12,885 || 2–2 |- style="background:#bbffbb;" | 5 || October 20 || @ Minnesota || W 77–76 || Candace Parker (28) || Ogwumike, Parker (12) || Alana Beard (6) || Target Center19,423 || 3–2

Standings

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.

Statistics

Regular season

2016 Los Angeles Sparks season

Bron en licentie