LOS ANGELES -- Unfortunately for the Sparks, this is the last game of the 2025 season.
The Sparks had to defeat the Mercury last Tuesday to keep their faint postseason hopes. But the Storm defeated the Valkyries minutes earlier to clinch the 8th and final playoff berth. Los Angeles would end up winning that game but at that point, it didn't matter. The Sparks are going to miss the playoffs for the fifth straight season.
So this game means nothing in terms of playoff implications. For Los Angeles, that is.
But in terms of having pride and playing spoiler? The Sparks (21-22) can do something there. They're facing the Las Vegas Aces (29-14) on Thursday. The Aces themselves have something to play for.
An Aces win would put them as the second seed in the playoff tournament coming up. However, a loss would keep them in the third seed. While the Sparks aren't going anywhere but home after Thursday, they can finish the season at .500, which would be the first time they finish with that kind of record for the first time since 2020.
Oh, yeah. Let's not forget. The Aces are on a 15-game winning streak. Of course, the Sparks would love to snap that to end the 2025 regular season.
One can't talk about the Aces without mentioning the continent of A'ja. The three-time MVP A'ja Wilson has become the frontrunner for her fourth such award. She's now leading the league in scoring (23.4 points per game), rebounds (9.9; Angel Reese hasn't played enough/gotten enough rebounds to qualify), and blocks (2.3). Wilson is also tied in second in steals (1.6).
What's even more remarkable are her numbers during this 15-game win stampede: averages of 26.5 points, 11.5 boards, 2.5 assists, 2.1 blocks, and 1.6 steals. All of this while having shooting splits of 53-54-89 (field goal, three-point, and free throw percentages). It is another level of ridiculousness.
Of course, Wilson is not alone. Her dominance makes people forget that she has Olympians on her team. Everyone knows Jackie Young pushes 18-wheelers as a hobby. Chelsea Gray has eyes everywhere. And Jewell Loyd can still get buckets. She also had the foresight to go to the bench when things weren't working. Now? It's like the Aces can't lose even if they tried to.
The Sparks have defeated the Aces before this season, though. They did it in June 11th when Rickea Jackson scored a career-best 30 points. Granted, Wilson left with a head injury before the third quarter ended but the beat goes on even when injuries happen (the Sparks know all too well).
These two teams are obviously different now than their last match-up from July 29th (coincidentally, Cameron Brink returned for that game). The loss to the Aces was the only blemish for the Sparks in that nine-game stretch where they went 8-1. Meanwhile, the Aces lost to the Lynx by 53 points the game after they defeated the Sparks. That must have lit a fire under Vegas because they haven't lost since. They were even able to get their win back against the Lynx as part of that aforementioned 15-game win streak.
Jackson (right lower leg) and Julie Allemand (ankle) are both questionable for Thursday's finale while Kierstan Bell (right lower leg) is out for Vegas.
No matter what happens, the Aces will go on to the playoffs to attempt to win their third title in four years. As for the Sparks? They will miss the playoffs again but this time around, they may finally be on the way up.
And a .500 record would be nice to end the 2025 season.
