| 2024 Los Angeles Sparks season |
|---|
| Coach | Curt Miller |
|---|
| Arena | Walter Pyramid (Capacity: 4,000 (first two games of the season)
Crypto.com Arena
(Capacity: 19,068) |
|---|
| Attendance | 11,045 per game |
|---|
|
| Record | 8–32 (.200) |
|---|
| Place | 6th (Western) |
|---|
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
|---|
|
| Points | Dearica Hamby – 17.3 ppg |
|---|
| Rebounds | Dearica Hamby – 9.2 rpg |
|---|
| Assists | Odyssey Sims – 5.1 apg |
|---|
|
| Television | ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, CBS, Paramount+, CBSSN, NBA TV, ION |
|---|
|
|
The 2024 WNBA season was the franchise's 28th season in the Women's National Basketball Association, and the second season under head coach Curt Miller. The season tipped off on May 15, 2024, in Long Beach versus the Atlanta Dream,[1] and ended on September 19 against the Minnesota Lynx.
The season started slowly for the Sparks as they lost both of their opening two games. They defeated Washington by two points on May 21 to earn their first win of the season. They lost the following two games including a one point loss to Dallas. They defeated Indiana before losing to Chicago to end the month with a 2–5 record. Their June started off with two losses as well. They won two games to follow including a victory at home against Last Vegas. That would be the highlight of the month as the team went on a seven game losing streak from there to finish the month with a 2–9 record. The only non-double digit loss during that streak was a 70–79 loss to Connecticut on June 18. Their losing streak extended one more game into July before they defeated Last Vegas in overtime. They would lose the next two games before defeating Dallas. They lost to Seattle to finish July 2–4 and head into the Olympic break. The Sparks lost the first six games after returning from the Olympic break before defeating New York to finish August 1–6. Well out of the playoff race, the Sparks lost the first eight games of September. The closest loss of the streak was by three-points at Seattle on September 15. The team finished the season with a win over Minnesota. The season was marred by a multitude of injuries, including a season-ending ACL tear to the team's No. 2 draft pick, Cameron Brink, who wound up missing the remainder of the season after playing just 15 games.[2] Brink's injury also caused her to miss the 2024 Summer Olympics, with her teammate Dearica Hamby taking her place on the United States women's national 3x3 team. The Sparks finished with just 8 wins and 32 losses, missing the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season and failing to improve on their 17-23 record from 2023. Their eight wins were the team's lowest total in franchise history and their 32 losses was the highest in a single season in league's history.
Transactions
WNBA draft
Transactions
| Date
|
Transaction
|
| January 5, 2024
|
Hired Raegan Pebley as General Manager[3]
|
| January 17, 2024
|
Jasmine Thomas retired[4]
|
| January 31, 2024
|
Traded the 19th pick in the 2024 WNBA draft to Seattle in exchange for Kia Nurse[5]
|
| February 1, 2024
|
Re-signed Layshia Clarendon[6]
|
| Traded the 12th overall pick in the 2024 draft and Jordin Canada to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for Aari McDonald and the 8th overall pick in the 2024 draft[7]
|
| Re-signed Rae Burrell[6]
|
| February 2, 2024
|
Signed Monique Billings[8]
|
| Signed Virag Kiss to a Training Camp Contract[9]
|
| Signed Taylor Mikesell to a Training Camp Contract[10]
|
| February 6, 2024
|
Signed Lexie Brown to an Extension[11]
|
| February 21, 2024
|
Traded the 8th overall pick in the 2024 draft to Chicago in exchange for Julie Allemand, the rights to Li Yueru and a third round pick in the 2025 draft.[12]
|
| March 21, 2024
|
Hired Christine Monjer as President[13]
|
| April 17, 2024
|
Signed Blake Dietrick to a Training Camp Contract[14]
|
| April 18, 2024
|
Signed McKenzie Forbes to a Rookie Contract[15]
|
| April 19, 2024
|
Signed Rickea Jackson to a Rookie Contract[15]
|
| April 20, 2024
|
Signed Cameron Brink to a Rookie Contract[15]
|
| April 30, 2024
|
Waived Virág Kiss[16]
|
| May 6, 2024
|
Waived Taylor Mikesell[17]
|
| May 12, 2024
|
Waived Nia Clouden, Blake Dietrick, and McKenzie Forbes
|
| May 13, 2024
|
Suspended the contract of Julie Allemand (full season)[18]
|
| Waived Monique Billings[19]
|
| June 22, 2024
|
Signed Queen Egbo to hardship contract[20]
|
| June 29, 2024
|
Waived Queen Egbo
|
| July 4, 2024
|
Signed Crystal Dangerfield to a 7-day hardship contract[21]
|
| July 12, 2024
|
Signed Crystal Dangerfield to a second 7-day contract[15]
|
| Suspended the contract of Li Yueru (temporary)
|
| August 7, 2024
|
Activated Li Yueru[15]
|
| August 16, 2024
|
Signed Crystal Dangerfield to a third 7-day contract[15]
|
| August 17, 2024
|
Signed Odyssey Sims to 7-day contract
|
| August 22, 2024
|
Signed Azurá Stevens and Stephanie Talbot to extensions through 2025[22][23]
|
| Signed Crystal Dangerfield to a rest of season contract[24]
|
| August 24, 2024
|
Signed Odyssey Sims to a second 7-day contract[25]
|
| August 31, 2024
|
Released Odyssey Sims and signed Simms to a 7-day contract
|
| September 7, 2024
|
Released Odyssey Sims and signed Simms to a rest-of-season contract
|
| September 20, 2024
|
Layshia Clarendon announced their retirement|[26]
|
| September 24, 2024
|
Head coach, Curt Miller, was fired
|
Roster changes
Roster
| 2024 Los Angeles Sparks roster |
|---|
| Players | Coaches |
|---|
| Pos. | No. | Nat. | Name | Height | Weight | DOB | From | Yrs |
|---|
| G | 20 | | Allemand, Julie (S) | 5' 8" (1.73m) | 147 lb (67kg) | 1996-07-07 | Belgium | 2 | | F | 22 | | Brink, Cameron | 6' 4" (1.93m) | 170 lb (77kg) | 2001-12-31 | Stanford | R | | G | 4 | | Brown, Lexie | 5' 9" (1.75m) | 162 lb (73kg) | 1994-10-24 | Duke | 6 | | G/F | 12 | | Burrell, Rae | 6' 2" (1.88m) | 168 lb (76kg) | 2000-06-21 | Tennessee | 2 | | G | 1 | | Cooke, Zia | 5' 9" (1.75m) | 163 lb (74kg) | 2001-01-09 | South Carolina | 1 | | G | 14 | | Dangerfield, Crystal | 5' 5" (1.65m) | 130 lb (59kg) | 1998-05-11 | Connecticut | 4 | | F | 5 | | Hamby, Dearica | 6' 3" (1.91m) | 189 lb (86kg) | 1993-11-06 | Wake Forest | 9 | | F | 2 | | Jackson, Rickea | 6' 2" (1.88m) | 175 lb (79kg) | 2001-03-16 | Tennessee | R | | C | 28 | | Li Yueru | 6' 7" (2.01m) | | 1999-03-28 | China | 1 | | G | 15 | | McDonald, Aari | 5' 6" (1.68m) | 141 lb (64kg) | 1998-08-20 | Arizona | 3 | | G | 10 | | Nurse, Kia | 6' 0" (1.83m) | 181 lb (82kg) | 1996-02-22 | Connecticut | 5 | | G | 6 | | Sims, Odyssey | 5' 8" (1.73m) | 155 lb (70kg) | 1992-07-13 | Baylor | 10 | | F/C | 23 | | Stevens, Azurá | 6' 6" (1.98m) | 180 lb (82kg) | 1996-02-01 | Connecticut | 6 | | F | 7 | | Talbot, Stephanie | 6' 2" (1.88m) | 192 lb (87kg) | 1994-06-15 | Australia | 5 |
|
- Head coach
- Curt Miller (Baldwin Wallace)
- Assistant coaches
- Neil Harrow (University of the West of Scotland)
- Nola Henry (College of Charleston)
- Camille Little (North Carolina)
- Athletic trainer
- Courtney Watson (California)
- Strength and conditioning coach
- Kelly Dormandy (Springfield)
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (DP) Unsigned draft pick
- (FA) Free agent
- (S) Suspended
- Injured
|
Depth chart
Schedule
Pre-season
Regular season
2024 game log
Total: 8–32 (Home: 5–15; Road: 3–17)
|
May: 2–5 (Home: 1–3; Road: 1–2)
|
June: 2–9 (Home: 2–1; Road: 0–8)
| Game |
Date |
Team |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location
Attendance |
Record
|
| 8
|
June 2
|
@ Phoenix
|
L 68–87
|
Dearica Hamby (23)
|
Rickea Jackson (7)
|
Aari McDonald (5)
|
Footprint Center
10,207
|
2–6
|
| 9
|
June 5
|
Minnesota
|
L 62–86
|
Dearica Hamby (17)
|
Dearica Hamby (11)
|
Stephanie Talbot (3)
|
Crypto.com Arena
8,104
|
2–7
|
| 10
|
June 7
|
Dallas
|
W 81–72
|
Dearica Hamby (22)
|
Dearica Hamby (12)
|
Brown, McDonald (6)
|
Crypto.com Arena
10,123
|
3–7
|
| 11
|
June 9
|
Las Vegas
|
W 96–92
|
Dearica Hamby (18)
|
Dearica Hamby (10)
|
Clarendon, Hamby (5)
|
Crypto.com Arena
13,900
|
4–7
|
| 12
|
June 11
|
@ Seattle
|
L 79–95
|
Li Yueru (18)
|
Dearica Hamby (11)
|
Brown, Hamby (5)
|
Climate Pledge Arena
8,202
|
4–8
|
| 13
|
June 14
|
@ Minnesota
|
L 76–81
|
Rickea Jackson (19)
|
Aari McDonald (7)
|
Target Center
8,117
|
4–9
|
| 14
|
June 16
|
@ Atlanta
|
L 74–87
|
Brink, Jackson (16)
|
Dearica Hamby (8)
|
Aari McDonald (5)
|
Gateway Center Arena
3,260
|
4–10
|
| 15
|
June 18
|
@ Connecticut
|
L 70–79
|
Aari McDonald (14)
|
Rickea Jackson (7)
|
Aari McDonald (7)
|
Mohegan Sun Arena
7,853
|
4–11
|
| 16
|
June 20
|
@ New York
|
L 80–93
|
Aari McDonald (15)
|
Hamby, Talbot (11)
|
Rae Burrell (4)
|
Barclays Center
10,955
|
4–12
|
| 17
|
June 22
|
L 88–98
|
Dearica Hamby (20)
|
Stephanie Talbot (8)
|
Stephanie Talbot (7)
|
Barclays Center
13,639
|
4–13
|
| 18
|
June 28
|
@ Phoenix
|
L 78–92
|
Dearica Hamby (29)
|
Dearica Hamby (7)
|
Aari McDonald (10)
|
Footprint Center
14,363
|
4–14
|
|
July
: 2–4 (Home: 1–4; Road: 1–0)
|
August
: 1–6 (Home: 1–2; Road: 0–4)
| Game |
Date |
Team |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location
Attendance |
Record
|
| 25
|
August 15
|
New York
|
L 68–103
|
Rae Burrell (15)
|
Dearica Hamby (13)
|
Dearica Hamby (5)
|
Crypto.com Arena
11,120
|
6–19
|
| 26
|
August 17
|
Chicago
|
L 86–90
|
Kia Nurse (16)
|
Dearica Hamby (9)
|
Crystal Dangerfield (6)
|
Crypto.com Arena
16,551
|
6–20
|
| 27
|
August 18
|
@ Las Vegas
|
L 71–87
|
Rickea Jackson (15)
|
Dearica Hamby (11)
|
Odyssey Sims (5)
|
Michelob Ultra Arena
10,311
|
6–21
|
| 28
|
August 20
|
@ Connecticut
|
L 61–69
|
Jackson, Stevens (14)
|
Dearica Hamby (10)
|
Crystal Dangerfield (4)
|
TD Garden
19,125
|
6–22
|
| 29
|
August 23
|
@ Washington
|
L 74–80
|
Rickea Jackson (17)
|
Dangerfield, Simms (5)
|
Entertainment and Sports Arena
4,200
|
6–23
|
| 30
|
August 25
|
@ Dallas
|
L 110–113
|
Odyssey Sims (26)
|
Tied (6 players, 3)
|
Odyssey Sims (10)
|
College Park Center
5,925
|
6–24
|
| 31
|
August 28
|
New York
|
W 94–88
|
Dearica Hamby (21)
|
Dearica Hamby (7)
|
Odyssey Sims (7)
|
Crypto.com Arena
10,403
|
7–24
|
|
September
: 1–8 (Home: 0–5; Road: 1–3)
|
| 2024 season schedule
|
Standings
Notes
- (#) – League Standing
- c – Commissioner's Cup winners
- y – Regular Season Champion
- x – Clinched playoff berth
- e – Eliminated from playoff contention
- Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings
Statistics
Regular season
| Player
|
GP
|
GS
|
MPG
|
FG%
|
3P%
|
FT%
|
RPG
|
APG
|
SPG
|
BPG
|
TO
|
PF
|
PPG
|
| Dearica Hamby |
40 |
40 |
33.7 |
.512 |
.341 |
.631 |
9.2 |
3.5 |
1.7 |
0.2 |
3.0 |
2.8 |
17.3
|
| Rickea Jackson |
40 |
35 |
28.8 |
.456 |
.347 |
.807 |
3.9 |
1.5 |
0.7 |
0.4 |
1.9 |
1.8 |
13.4
|
| Odyssey Sims ≠ |
15 |
10 |
26.3 |
.438 |
.154 |
.838 |
1.7 |
5.1 |
0.9 |
0.1 |
2.4 |
1.4 |
9.8
|
| Azurá Stevens |
20 |
19 |
24.7 |
.399 |
.350 |
.815 |
7.0 |
1.9 |
0.9 |
0.9 |
1.8 |
2.0 |
9.6
|
| Aari McDonald |
26 |
10 |
21.8 |
.403 |
.319 |
.843 |
2.0 |
3.7 |
0.9 |
0.2 |
1.8 |
2.0 |
8.7
|
| Lexie Brown |
16 |
8 |
23.7 |
.321 |
.304 |
.889 |
2.3 |
3.3 |
1.1 |
0.1 |
1.9 |
1.4 |
8.1
|
| Kia Nurse |
40 |
27 |
20.3 |
.388 |
.331 |
.793 |
1.6 |
1.3 |
0.5 |
0.0 |
1.2 |
1.8 |
7.6
|
| Cameron Brink |
15 |
15 |
22.0 |
.398 |
.323 |
.840 |
5.3 |
1.7 |
1.1 |
2.3 |
2.3 |
4.0 |
7.5
|
| Rae Burrell |
37 |
7 |
15.6 |
.362 |
.333 |
.780 |
1.8 |
1.1 |
0.8 |
0.3 |
1.0 |
1.6 |
5.9
|
| Li Yueru |
38 |
2 |
14.4 |
.463 |
.267 |
.898 |
3.7 |
0.6 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.9 |
2.1 |
5.1
|
| Layshia Clarendon |
21 |
12 |
16.0 |
.427 |
.350 |
.870 |
1.8 |
2.6 |
0.7 |
0.0 |
1.2 |
2.1 |
4.3
|
| Zia Cooke |
29 |
0 |
8.9 |
.321 |
.297 |
.690 |
0.6 |
0.6 |
0.3 |
0.1 |
0.7 |
0.8 |
3.6
|
| Stephanie Talbot |
37 |
10 |
16.2 |
.395 |
.260 |
.690 |
2.7 |
2.1 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
1.0 |
1.4 |
3.5
|
| Crystal Dangerfield ≠ |
18 |
5 |
12.8 |
.286 |
.308 |
.667 |
1.0 |
2.0 |
0.4 |
0.2 |
0.9 |
0.7 |
3.3
|
| Queen Egbo ≠ ‡ |
2 |
0 |
2.0 |
1.000 |
— |
— |
1.5 |
0.0 |
0.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.5 |
1.0
|
‡Waived/Released during the season
†Traded during the season
≠Acquired during the season
Awards and honors
References
- ^ "2024 Los Angeles Sparks Schedule". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Sparks rookie forward Cameron Brink suffers torn ACL". ESPN. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
- ^ "Los Angeles Sparks Name Raegan Pebley General Manager". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ "Veteran G Jasmine Thomas retires after 13-year WNBA career". espn.com. Fan Level Media. January 17, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
- ^ "Sparks Acquire WNBA All-Star Guard Kia Nurse". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. January 31, 2024. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ a b "Sparks Re-Sign Layshia Clarendon and Rae Burrell". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. February 1, 2024. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Sparks Acquire Guard Aari McDonald". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. February 1, 2024. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Sparks Sign Forward Monique Billings". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. February 2, 2024. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ @LASparks (February 2, 2024). "International love! 💜💛 Welcome to the team, Virág Kiss!" (Tweet). Retrieved February 29, 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ @LASparks (February 2, 2024). "Signed on the dotted line. ✍️ Welcome to LA, @TMikesell23!" (Tweet). Retrieved February 29, 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ @LASparksPR (February 6, 2024). "Lexie Brown on her two-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Sparks: "This is such a surreal moment for me. Anyone familiar with my career knows that it hasn't always been easy and finding a home with the Sparks organization has been such a blessing. They have allowed me to be myself and walk in my light since day one. I'm really excited for the future and being a veteran leader of this super talented team. I can't thank everyone in the organization enough for believing in me and supporting me. This is an opportunity that I've been waiting for and working so hard for. I'm ready!"" (Tweet). Retrieved February 29, 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ Michael Voepel (February 19, 2024). "Sky land No. 8 pick in 2024 WNBA draft in trade with Sparks". ESPN. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ^ "Los Angeles Sparks Name Christine Monjer As Team President". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ @LASparks (April 17, 2024). "Keep adding to the roster! 🙌 Welcome to LA, @BIakeDietrick!" (Tweet). Retrieved April 18, 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b c d e f "WNBA Transactions". acrossthetimeline.com. Across the Timeline. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ @LASparksPR (April 30, 2024). "Training camp update: The LA Sparks have waived center Virag Kiss" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @LASparksPR (May 6, 2024). "Training camp update: The Los Angeles Sparks have waived guard Taylor Mikesell" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Sparks Announce 2024 Final Roster". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
- ^ @LASparksPR (May 13, 2024). "Training camp update: The Los Angeles Sparks have waived forward Monique Billings" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Sparks Sign Center Queen Egbo to Hardship Contract". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. June 22, 2024. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ "Sparks Sign Guard Crystal Dangerfield to Hardship Contract". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. July 4, 2024. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
- ^ "Sparks Forward Azurà Stevens Signs Contract Extension". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ "Sparks Forward Stephanie Talbot Signs Contract Extension". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ @LASparksPR (August 23, 2024). "The Sparks have signed Crystal Dangerfield to a rest-of-season hardship contract" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ @LASparksPR (August 24, 2024). "The LA Sparks have signed Odyssey Sims to a second 7-day hardship contract" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Los Angeles Sparks guard Layshia Clarendon retires after 12 years in the WNBA". Associated Press. September 20, 2024. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
- ^ @LASparksPR (June 11, 2024). "Dearica Hamby is the WNBA's Western Conference Player of the Week for June 3 through June 9, the league announced today. Hamby is the fourth player to win the award this season, joining Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper and A'ja Wilson" (Tweet). Retrieved June 11, 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Rosters Set for AT&T WNBA All-Star 2024 on July 20". WNBA (Press release). July 2, 2024.
- ^ a b Feinberg, Doug (September 22, 2024). "A'ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark are unanimous choices for WNBA AP Player and Rookie of the Year". Associated Press. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
- ^ Ariali, Cat (October 2, 2024). "2024 WNBA Awards: Los Angeles Sparks' Dearica Hamby wins Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award". SB Nation. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
- ^ Zucker, Joseph (October 3, 2024). "Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso Headline 2024 WNBA All-Rookie Team". Bleacher Report. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
External links
|
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|
| Franchise | |
|---|
| Arenas | |
|---|
| Head coaches | |
|---|
| Administration | |
|---|
| All-Stars | |
|---|
| Seasons | |
|---|
| Playoff appearances | |
|---|
| Conference Championships | |
|---|
| WNBA Championships | |
|---|
| Rivals | |
|---|
| Media | |
|---|