LOS ANGELES -- The Sparks (4-8) split their recent two-game trip. They are back for a quick stay at Crypto.com Arena before setting out on another three-game roadie. The Seattle Storm will pay the city of Angels a little visit.
The Storm (6-5) have been a bit unpredictable this season. At times, they look like contenders. They handed the Minnesota Lynx their first loss of the year. And other times, they don’t look so great. They only scored 59 points in a blowout loss to the Mercury. The Storm’s last game was a loss to the surprising Valkyries. Are the Storm for real? It’s sometimes silly to ask only a quarter through the season but they’ve certainly been very up and down. However, the Storm can clinch a berth in the Commissioner's Cup Final should they win so long as the Lynx also lose on Tuesday night.
The talent is undeniable. Skylar Diggins is having a hell of a season (18.1 points, 6.1 assists per game). Ex-Spark Nneka Ogwumike continues to be steady (15.6 points, 8.5 rebounds). They have Gabby Williams (14.4 points) for a full season. Ezi Magbegor is having a down year offensively but she’s still one of the better defensive players in the league. Erika Wheeler and Alysha Clark were big pick-ups in the offseason and the second overall pick in April’s draft, Dominique Malonga, has scary potential. The Storm are as good as anyone if they can keep it consistent.
Now for the Sparks? This tweet can explain it best on what’s going on.
6/17 Sparks Game Status Report vs. Seattle Storm:
— LA Sparks PR (@LASparksPR) June 17, 2025
#0 – Odyssey Sims – NWT – Personal Reasons
#10 – Kelsey Plum – OUT – Left Lower Leg
#12 – Rae Burrell – OUT – Right Knee
#20 – Julie Allemand – NWT – Overseas Commitment
#22 – Cameron Brink – OUT – Left Knee
This is way too familiar for these Sparks. It’s been heard many times over the past few years that “they’ve gotta get healthy.”
With only Sarah Ashlee Barker and Shey Peddy, who is on a hardship deal herself, as the only active guards left, the team signed former Fever guard Grace Berger to a rest-of-season hardship deal. Berger did two seasons for the Indiana Fever, playing 47 games and averaging 3.9 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting .441 from the field and .462 from three. She was the 7th overall pick in the 2023 Draft.
The Sparks do still have a potent frontline. Rickea Jackson is averaging 24.0 points in her last two, including her scorching 30-point game against Vegas. Dearica Hamby continues to be productive (17.5 points, 8.0 rebounds per game). And Azurá Stevens is having a career year (13.3 points and her 8.7 rebounds per game is 7th in the league).
Coach Lynne Roberts has said many times in this young season that there is a lot of new. And it’ll continue to be that way as the Sparks once again struggle with their team health.
Still, the Sparks have always brought the fight. As mentioned, the Storm themselves have been very up and down. The Sparks hope to keep it together and catch the Storm while they’re still a drizzle.