Los Angeles Sparks
| Los Angeles Sparks | ||
|---|---|---|
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| founding | 1997 | |
| history |
Los Angeles Sparks since 1997 |
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| Stadion |
Great Western Forum 1997–2000 Staples Center since 2001 |
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| Location | Los Angeles , California | |
| Club colors | gold-colored, purple | |
| league | WNBA | |
| Conference | Western Conference | |
| Head coach | Derek Fisher | |
| General manager | Penny Toler | |
| owner | Carla Christofferson Kathy Goodman |
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| Championships | 2001 , 2002 , 2016 | |
| Conference title | 2001 , 2002 , 2003 , 2019 * (* after regular season) | |
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The Los Angeles Sparks are an American women's basketball team of the Women's National Basketball Association based in Los Angeles , California .
The Sparks are the sister team of the Los Angeles Lakers from the National Basketball Association .
In 2001 , 2002 and 2016 the Sparks were able to win the WNBA championship and are among the most successful active teams in the WNBA after the Minnesota Lynx .
history
First years (1997 to 2000)
The Sparks were founded in 1997 and are therefore a team of the Original Eight . The Sparks played their first league game on June 21, 1997 against the New York Liberty at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood . This game was also the opening game of the WNBA season. Penny Toler scored the first basket of the game and the league in front of 14,284 spectators. The Sparks won the game with 67:57. The Sparks ended their first season with a balanced record of 14 wins in 28 games. Due to a loss in the last game of the regular season against the Phoenix Mercury , the Sparks just missed the playoffs. In the following season, the Sparks missed the playoffs again with only 12 wins in 30 games. In the 1999 season , the Sparks were able to win most of their games for the first time and thus also reach the playoffs for the first time. In the Conference Semifinals they were able to win the home game against the Sacramento Monarchs with 71:58 and thus qualify for the Conference Finals, where they met the Houston Comets , who could win the first two championships. However, the Sparks had no chance and clearly lost the best-of-three series with 0: 2. In the 2000 season , the Sparks were able to improve again and ended the season with 28 wins in 32 games as the best team in the league. The Sparks moved in the playoffs after a clear 2-0 win against the Mercury again in the Conference Finals, where they met the Comets again. Although the Sparks were the clear favorites and also had the home advantage on their side, they clearly lost the series again with 0: 2.
Successor to the Comets (2001 to 2003)
In the 2001 season , the Sparks played their home games for the first time at the Staples Center . Moving to the new arena probably brought luck for the Sparks as they won all 16 home games this season. Led by Michael Cooper , who was named Coach of the Year the previous season , the Sparks were finally able to end the regular season again with 28 wins in 32 games. This qualified the Sparks again as the first team for the playoffs, where they met the four-time WNBA champions from Houston. The Sparks left the Comets, who played a season without their superstar Cynthia Cooper for the first time , no chance and won the series 2-0. The Comets lost a series in the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. In the Conference Finals, the Sparks did not let themselves be stopped by the Sacramento Monarchs and thus moved into the WNBA Finals for the first time in their history, where they met the Charlotte Sting . The Sparks made short work of the Sting and clearly won the series 2-0. The Sparks officially replaced the Comets from the WNBA throne. Sparks Superstar Lisa Leslie was named Finals MVP .
In the following season , the Sparks were able to finish the regular season as the best team in the West. In the playoffs one reached after successes against the Seattle Storm and the Utah Starzz without losing a playoff game again the WNBA finals. Opponents there were the New York Liberty who could be defeated in three games. Lisa Leslie was reappointed the finals MVP.
The 2003 season was largely similar. After first place in the Western Conference, the finals were reached again. Playoff opponents on the way there were this time the Minnesota Lynx and the Sacramento Monarchs. In contrast to previous years, the final series was lost. After three games, the Sparks had to admit defeat to the Detroit Shock 1: 2.
Waiting for the finals (2004 to 2015)
In the following seasons, the Sparks continued to reach the playoffs regularly, but could no longer move into the WNBA finals, although twice the best record in the west could be achieved. Overall, the team has reached the playoffs ten times in the 12 seasons since 2004. Six times they failed in the conference semifinals and four times at least the conference finals could be reached. The team failed three times each to the Sacramento Monarchs and the Phoenix Mercury .
Return of Success (from 2016)
In 2016 the team increased significantly and reached the playoffs again with the second-best record of the Western Conference. After a bye in the first two rounds of the new playoff system , the team clearly prevailed against the Chicago Sky team in the semifinals . In the WNBA Finals you met last year's champions on Minnesota, who was also the best team of the regular season. In a very exciting series, the Minnesota Lynx team was narrowly defeated. The decision was only made in the final seconds of the crucial fifth game. In 2017 the Sparks were again the second best team in the Western Conference behind the Lynx. After a clear success in the WNBA semifinals, this time the team from Minnesota had to admit defeat in five games in the final. In the regular 2018 season it was not possible to build on the good results of previous years. The playoffs were reached anyway. Long-time rivals from Minnesota were also defeated there, but the season ended prematurely in the second playoff round. The 2019 season was more successful again. With 22 wins they were the best team in the Western Conference. In the playoffs they failed in the semifinals against the Connecticut Sun team .
Venue
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The Los Angeles Sparks played in the Great Western Forum from 1997 to 2000 . During this time, the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers from the NBA , the Los Angeles Kings from the NHL and the Los Angeles Stars from the American Basketball Association also played there . In 2001 the Sparks moved to the Staples Center , which opened on October 17, 1999. In addition to the Sparks, the LA Lakers, LA Clippers and LA Kings have been playing again at the Staples Center since 1999. The Los Angeles Avengers from the Arena Football League and the Los Angeles D-Fenders from the NBA Development League also played there for a while .
Audience numbers
The LA Sparks started with relatively low audience numbers, which only increased after the move to the Staples Center and the subsequent sporting success. Since then, the average attendance has always been above the WNBA average and in some seasons even five-digit values have been achieved. In 2012 and 2013, the Sparks had the highest audience participation within the WNBA. Also in 2017 the Sparks achieved the best popularity in the league and the second best in team history after the championship season in 2002. In 2018 and 2019 the audience was a little lower, but they were still the league leader.
Achievements and honors
Sporting successes
The Sparks won the WNBA championship in the 2001 , 2002 and 2016 seasons and lost in the WNBA finals in 2003 and 2017 . This makes the Sparks, together with other teams, the most successful team in the history of the WNBA after the Houston Comets and the Minnesota Lynx . The Sparks were able to achieve the best record of the Western Conference seven times in the regular season (2000-2004, 2006 and 2019).
Individual awards
The players of the team were able to win many individual awards, also due to the consistently good team performance.
Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award : After the very first award in this category went to the Chinese Zheng Haixia in 1997, it took over 20 years for this award to go back to Los Angeles.
Defensive Player of the Year Award : The award for the best defensive player of the regular season has now been given four times to the team's players, Lisa Leslie and Alana Beard were honored twice each.
- 2004 - Lisa Leslie
- 2008 - Lisa Leslie
- 2017 - Alana Beard
- 2018 - Alana Beard
Finals MVP Award : The Sparks have won the championship three times so far and, as usual, one player from the winning team has been named the most valuable player in the WNBA finals.
- 2001 - Lisa Leslie
- 2002 - Lisa Leslie
- 2016 - Candace Parker
Most Valuable Player Award : Lisa Leslie won this award three times, no other WNBA player won it more often. In 2008 rookie Candace Parker was named MVP of the Season, which continued to receive the award in the 2013 season. Nneka Ogwumike was the last Sparks player to win this honor. So far, the Sparks players have won this important award six times and are the most successful WNBA team.
- 2001 - Lisa Leslie
- 2004 - Lisa Leslie
- 2006 - Lisa Leslie
- 2008 - Candace Parker
- 2013 - Candace Parker
- 2016 - Nneka Ogwumike
Coach of the Year Award : The award for the best coach of the regular season has gone to Los Angeles twice so far.
Peak Performer : Several Sparks players have already won this award in different categories.
- 1997 - Zheng Haixia (Western Conference Shooting Champion)
- 2001 - Latasha Byears (throwing quota from the field)
- 2004 - Lisa Leslie (Rebounds)
- 2008 - Candace Parker (Rebounds)
- 2009 - Candace Parker (Rebounds)
- 2010 - Ticha Penicheiro (Assists)
Rookie of the Year Award : So far, two Sparks players have received this award as the best rookie of the season.
Most Improved Player Award : In 2012 Kristi Toliver was the first Sparks player to receive this award as the most improved player of the season.
Sixth Woman of the Year Award : In the year of the third Sparks championship, this award went to Los Angeles for the first time.
WNBA All-Decade Team : On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the WNBA in 2006, fans, media representatives, current players and coaches chose the ten players who had the greatest influence on the success of the WNBA. Lisa Leslie was the only player selected by the Sparks.
Season overview
Abbreviations: Sp. = Games, S = victories, N = defeats
| season | Sp. | S. | N | Wins in% | space | Playoffs |
| 1997 | 28 | 14th | 14th | 50.0 | 2nd, Western Conference | not qualified |
| 1998 | 30th | 12 | 18th | 40.0 | 3rd, Western Conference | not qualified |
| 1999 | 32 | 20th | 12 | 62.5 | 2nd, Western Conference | Victory in the Conference Semifinals, 1-0 ( Sacramento Monarchs ) defeat in the Conference Finals, 1: 2 ( Houston Comets ) |
| 2000 | 32 | 28 | 4th | 87.5 | 1st, Western Conference | Victory in the Conference Semifinals, 2-0 ( Phoenix Mercury ), loss in the Conference Finals, 0-2 ( Houston Comets ) |
| 2001 | 32 | 28 | 4th | 87.5 | 1st, Western Conference | Victory in the Conference Semifinals, 2-0 ( Houston Comets ) Victory in the Conference Finals, 2-1 ( Sacramento Monarchs ) WNBA champions , 2-0 ( Charlotte Sting ) |
| 2002 | 32 | 25th | 7th | 78.1 | 1st, Western Conference | Victory in the Conference Semifinals, 2-0 ( Seattle Storm ) Victory in the Conference Finals, 2-0 ( Utah Starzz ) WNBA champions , 2-1 ( New York Liberty ) |
| 2003 | 34 | 24 | 10 | 70.6 | 1st, Western Conference | Victory in the Conference Semifinals, 2-1 ( Minnesota Lynx ) victory in the Conference Finals, 2-1 ( Sacramento Monarchs ) defeat in the WNBA Finals, 1: 2 ( Detroit Shock ) |
| 2004 | 34 | 25th | 9 | 73.5 | 1st, Western Conference | Conference semifinals lost, 2-1 ( Sacramento Monarchs ) |
| 2005 | 34 | 17th | 17th | 50.0 | 4th, Western Conference | Conference semifinals lost, 2-0 ( Sacramento Monarchs ) |
| 2006 | 34 | 25th | 9 | 73.5 | 1st, Western Conference | Victory in the Conference Semifinals, 2-1 ( Seattle Storm ) defeat in the Conference Finals, 0-2 ( Sacramento Monarchs ) |
| 2007 | 34 | 10 | 24 | 29.4 | 7th, Western Conference | not qualified |
| 2008 | 34 | 20th | 14th | 58.8 | 3rd, Western Conference | Victory in the Conference Semifinals, 2-1 ( Seattle Storm ), loss in the Conference Finals, 1: 2 ( San Antonio Silver Stars ) |
| 2009 | 34 | 18th | 16 | 52.9 | 3rd, Western Conference | Victory in the Conference Semifinals, 2-1 ( Seattle Storm ) Defeat in the Conference Finals, 1: 2 ( Phoenix Mercury ) |
| 2010 | 34 | 13 | 21st | 38.2 | 4th, Western Conference | Conference semifinals lost, 2-0 ( Seattle Storm ) |
| 2011 | 34 | 15th | 19th | 44.1 | 5th, Western Conference | not qualified |
| 2012 | 34 | 20th | 14th | 70.6 | 2nd, Western Conference | Victory in the Conference Semifinals, 2-0 ( San Antonio Silver Stars ) defeat in the Conference Finals, 0-2 ( Minnesota Lynx ) |
| 2013 | 34 | 24 | 10 | 70.6 | 2nd, Western Conference | Conference semifinals lost, 2-1 ( Phoenix Mercury ) |
| 2014 | 34 | 16 | 18th | 47.1 | 4th, Western Conference | Conference semifinals lost, 2-0 ( Phoenix Mercury ) |
| 2015 | 34 | 14th | 20th | 41.2 | 4th, Western Conference | Conference semifinals lost, 2-1 ( Minnesota Lynx ) |
| 2016 | 34 | 26th | 8th | 76.5 | 2nd, Western Conference | WNBA semifinals win, 3-0 ( Chicago Sky ) WNBA champions , 3-2 ( Minnesota Lynx ) |
| 2017 | 34 | 26th | 8th | 76.5 | 2nd, Western Conference | Victory in the WNBA semifinals, 3-0 ( Phoenix Mercury ), loss in the WNBA finals, 2-3 ( Minnesota Lynx ) |
| 2018 | 34 | 19th | 15th | 55.9 | 3rd, Western Conference | 1st round win, 1-0 ( Minnesota Lynx ) 2nd round loss, 0-1 ( Washington Mystics ) |
| 2019 | 34 | 22nd | 12 | 64.7 | 1st, Western Conference | 2nd round win, 1-0 ( Seattle Storm ) loss in the WNBA semifinals, 0-3 ( Connecticut Sun ) |
| total | 764 | 461 | 303 | 60.3 | 19 playoff appearances in 23 seasons 35 series: 19 wins, 16 losses 89 games: 47 wins, 42 losses (52.8%) |
Trainer
- Linda Sharp (1997)
- Julie Rosseau (1997-1998)
- Orlando Woolridge (1998-1999)
- Karleen Thompson (2004)
- Ryan Weisenberg (2004)
- Henry Bibby (2005)
- Joe Bryant (2005-2007)
- Michael Cooper (1999-2004; since 2007)
Players
Squad of the 2017 season
As of September 11, 2017
| No. | country | Surname | position | Date of birth | Experience in WNBA |
college |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 |
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Alana Beard | Guard-Forward | 05/14/1982 | 11 seasons | Duke University |
| 1 |
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Odyssey Sims | Guard | 07/13/1992 | 3 seasons | Baylor University |
| 2 |
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Riquna Williams | Guard | May 28, 1990 | 4 seasons | University of Miami |
| 3 |
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Candace Parker | Forward center | 04/19/1986 | 9 seasons | University of Tennessee |
| 7th |
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Sandrine Gruda | Forward center | 06/25/1987 | 5 seasons | - |
| 12 |
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Chelsea Gray | Guard | 10/08/1992 | 2 seasons | Duke University |
| 17th |
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Essence Carson | Forward guard | 07/28/1986 | 9 seasons | Rutgers University |
| 24 |
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Sydney meadow | Guard | 06/16/1995 | Rookie | Oregon State University |
| 26th |
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Maimouna Diarra | center | 01/30/1991 | Rookie | - |
| 30th |
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Nneka Ogwumike | Forward | 07/02/1990 | 5 seasons | Stanford University |
| 33 |
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Tiffany Jackson-Jones | Forward | April 26, 1985 | 8 seasons | University of Texas |
| 42 |
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Jantel Lavender | center | 11/12/1988 | 6 seasons | Ohio State University |
WNBA championship teams
(Participation in at least one playoff game)
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WNBA champion 2001 |
Guards: Tamecka Dixon , Ukari Figgs , Nicole Levandusky , Nicky McCrimmon , Wendi Willits Forwards: Latasha Byears , Vedrana Grgin-Fonseca , Mwadi Mabika , DeLisha Milton-Jones Center: Lisa Leslie (Finals MVP) , Rhonda Mapp Head Coach: Michael Cooper |
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WNBA champion 2002 |
Guards: Tamecka Dixon, Nicky McCrimmon, Nikki Teasley , Sophia Witherspoon , Guard Fowards: Latasha Byears, Mwadi Mabika, Forwards: DeLisha Milton-Jones, Vedrana Grgin-Fonseca Forward Center: Érika de Souza Center: Marlies Askamp , Lisa Leslie (Finals MVP) Head Coach: Michael Cooper |
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WNBA champion 2016 |
Guards: Kristi Toliver , Chelsea Gray , Ana Dabović Guard Fowards: Alana Beard , Essence Carson Forwards: Nneka Ogwumike , Jelena Dubljevic , Eugeniya Belyakova Forward Center: Candace Parker (Finals MVP) , Sandrine Gruda Center: Jantel Lavender , Ann Wauters Head Coach: Brian Agler |
Blocked jersey numbers
The jersey numbers of the following players are no longer given by the Sparks:
| Blocked jersey numbers | |||
| Players | |||
| # | Surname | position | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Penny Toler | Guard | 1997-1999 |
First-round voting rights in the WNBA Draft
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Since 1997, the club had 18 draft rights in the first round of the WNBA draft in 21 seasons . A total of four times in 2003 , 2005 , 2007 and 2014 , the Sparks did not have a draft pick in the first round due to trades. In the 2011 draft , two players could even be selected in the first round.
Although the Sparks are regularly among the strongest teams in the WNBA and have only missed the playoffs twice in this millennium, they were lucky enough to receive the top draft pick in the Draft Lottery. Candace Parker was selected in 2008 and Nneka Ogwumike in 2012 . The two top draft picks were able to meet the expectations placed in them and were each voted the best newcomer of the year after their first seasons in the WNBA .
In the 2017 season , Candace Parker , Jantel Lavender , Nneka Ogwumike and Sydney Wiese were still four players selected by the team in the first round of the draft in the club's squad.
Web links
- Official website of the Sparks (English)
- Official homepage of the WNBA (English)
Individual evidence
- ^ Los Angeles Sparks Draft History. WNBA, accessed May 29, 2017 .
- ^ All-Time WNBA Draft Picks. WNBA, accessed November 30, 2016 .