2022 Los Angeles Sparks season

2022 Los Angeles Sparks season
CoachDerek Fisher (Until June 7)
Fred Williams (Interim, from July 7th-present)
ArenaCrypto.com Arena
Attendance5,653 per game
Results
Record13–23 (.361)
Place6th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Team Leaders
PointsNneka Ogwumike – 18.1 ppg
ReboundsNneka Ogwumike – 6.6 rpg
AssistsJordin Canada – 5.5 apg
Media
TelevisionSpectrum SportsNet
ESPN
CBS/CBS Sports Network
NBA TV

The 2022 WNBA season was the 26th season for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association. The season tipped off on May 6, 2022, versus the Chicago Sky.[1]

The Sparks started the season well with road wins over Chicago and Indiana, but could not hold onto that momentum as they lost the next five games in a row. They broke the streak by winning three of their next four games to finish May 5–6. They would open June with a loss and on June 7, 2022, the Sparks and head coach Derek Fisher parted ways after starting the season 5–7, and Fred Williams was named the interim head coach.[2] Williams' tenure started with back to back losses, but the Sparks won two of their last four games in June to finish the month 2–5. The team won its first three games in July before losing their next three. Two wins were followed by three losses to finish July 5–6. The team began August in the playoff hunt, but three straight losses extended their losing streak to six total and dashed their playoff hopes. A win at Washington would be the Sparks' only win in August as they finished the season with three straight home losses. They finished the month 1–6 and the season 13–23.

Transactions

WNBA draft

Round Pick Player Nationality School/team/country
1 9 Rae Burrell  United States Tennessee
2 16 Kianna Smith  United States Louisville
2 19 Olivia Nelson-Ododa  United States UConn
3 27 Amy Atwell  United States Hawaii

Trades and Roster Changes

Date Transaction
December 31, 2021 Renounced the rights to Marianna Tolo and Aina Ayuso [3]
January 1, 2022 Extended Qualifying Offers to Te'a Cooper and Lauren Cox[4]
January 4, 2022 Signed Lauren Cox to a Qualifying Offer[5]
January 20, 2022 Signed Te'a Cooper to a Qualifying Offer[6]
February 3, 2022 Traded Gabby Williams to Seattle in exchange for Katie Lou Samuelson and the 9th pick in the 2022 WNBA draft.[7]
February 5, 2022 Traded Erica Wheeler, a 2023 First-Round Pick, and 2022 Second-Round Pick to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for Chennedy Carter and the rights to Li Yueru[8]
February 8, 2022 Signed Jordin Canada to a One-Year Deal[9]
February 18, 2022 Signed Liz Cambage[10]
March 30, 2022 Trade the rights to Li Yueru to the Chicago Sky in exchange for Lexie Brown[11]
April 15, 2022 Signed Chantel Horvat and Lexi Gordan to training-camp contracts[12]
April 16, 2022 Signed Rae Burrell, Kianna Smith, and Amy Atwell to rookie-scale contracts
April 17, 2022 Signed Olivia Nelson-Ododa to a rookie-scale contract
April 29, 2022 Waived Lauren Cox, Chantel Horvat, and Lexi Gordan[13]
May 4, 2022 Waived Te'a Cooper, Arella Guirantes, and Kianna Smith[14]
May 5, 2022 Temporarily Suspend Kristi Toliver and Katie Lou Samuelson due to NBA and Overseas Commitments
Full Season suspension of the contract of Amanda Zahui B
May 11, 2022 Exercised the 4th Year Team Option on Chennedy Carter
May 16, 2022 Signed Katie Lou Samuelson to a One Year Extension[15]
May 17, 2022 Activated Katie Lou Samuelson from her Temporary Suspension[16]
June 7, 2022 Fired Head coach/GM Derek Fisher and named Fred Williams as Interim Head coach[17]
Waived Amy Atwell[18]
June 9, 2022 Activated Kristi Toliver from her Temporary Suspension
July 4, 2022 Signed Kianna Smith to a 7-Day Hardship Contract[19]
July 26, 2022 Waived Liz Cambage[20]
Signed Kianna Smith to a 2nd 7-day contract[21]
August 2, 2022 Signed Kianna Smith[22]

Roster

2022 Los Angeles Sparks roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Height Weight DOB From Yrs
G 4 United States Brown, Lexie 5' 9" (1.75m) 162 lb (73kg) 10-24-1994 Duke 4
G/F 12 United States Burrell, Rae Injured 6' 2" (1.88m) 168 lb (76kg) 06-21-2000 Tennessee R
G 21 United States Canada, Jordin 5' 6" (1.68m) 135 lb (61kg) 1995-08-11 UCLA 4
G 7 United States Carter, Chennedy 5' 9" (1.75m) 143 lb (65kg) 1998-11-14 Texas A&M 2
C 10 United States Nelson-Ododa, Olivia 6' 5" (1.96m) 173 lb (78kg) 08-17-2000 Connecticut R
F 30 United States Ogwumike, Nneka 6' 2" (1.88m) 174 lb (79kg) 1990-07-02 Stanford 10
F/C 13 United States Ogwumike, Chiney 6' 3" (1.91m) 183 lb (83kg) 1992-03-21 Stanford 5
F 33 United States Samuelson, Katie Lou 6' 3" (1.91m) 163 lb (74kg) 1997-06-13 Connecticut 3
G 5 United States Smith, Kianna 6' 0" (1.83m) 162 lb (73kg) 06-10-1994 Louisville R
G 15 United States Sykes, Brittney 5' 9" (1.75m) 154 lb (70kg) 1994-02-07 Syracuse 5
G 20 United States Toliver, Kristi Injured 5' 7" (1.7m) 130 lb (59kg) 1987-01-27 Maryland 12
F 40 United States Walker, Jasmine 6' 3" (1.91m) 182 lb (83kg) 1998-02-03 Alabama 1
Head coach
United States Fred Williams (Boise State)
Assistant coaches
United States Latricia Trammell (East Central University)
United States Seimone Augustus (LSU)
Athletic trainer
United States Courtney Watson (California)
Strength and conditioning coach
United States Kelly Dormandy (Springfield College)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Depth

Pos. Starter Bench
C Chiney Ogwumike Olivia Nelson-Ododa
PF Nneka Ogwumike Jasmine Walker
SF Katie Lou Samuelson Rae Burrell
SG Brittney Sykes Lexie Brown
Kianna Smith
PG Kristi Toliver Jordin Canada
Chennedy Carter

Schedule

Preseason

2022 pre-season game log
Total: 1–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–1)
April: 1–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 April 23 @ Seattle L 68–81 Olivia Nelson-Ododa (15) Olivia Nelson-Ododa (12) Olivia Nelson-Ododa (5) Climate Pledge Arena
5,734 		0–1
2 April 30 Phoenix W 87-84 Amy Atwell (19) Olivia Nelson-Ododa (6) Jordin Canada (3) Matadome
N/A 		1-1
2022 pre-season schedule

Regular season

2022 game log
Total: 13–23 (Home: 7–11; Road: 6–12)
May: 5–6 (Home: 2–1; Road: 3–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 May 6 @ Chicago W 98–91 (OT) Jordin Canada (21) Nneka Ogwumike (7) Jordin Canada (8) Wintrust Arena
8,111 		1–0
2 May 8 @ Indiana W 88–78 Liz Cambage (22) Liz Cambage (11) Jordin Canada (6) Gainbridge Fieldhouse
1,456 		2–0
3 May 11 @ Atlanta L 75–77 Jordin Canada (19) Nneka Ogwumike (15) Nneka Ogwumike (4) Gateway Center Arena
3,138 		2–1
4 May 14 @ Connecticut L 60–77 Canada
N. Ogwumike (12) 		Cambage
Walker (4) 		Brittney Sykes (4) Mohegan Sun Arena
5,624 		2–2
5 May 17 Minnesota L 84–87 Nneka Ogwumike (22) Nneka Ogwumike (8) Jordin Canada (6) Crypto.com Arena
4,701 		2–3
6 May 20 @ Seattle L 80–83 Liz Cambage (25) Liz Cambage (8) Lexie Brown (5) Climate Pledge Arena
10,103 		2–4
7 May 23 @ Las Vegas L 76–104 Chennedy Carter (17) Nneka Ogwumike (6) Jordin Canada (9) Michelob Ultra Arena
4,092 		2–5
8 May 25 Phoenix W 99–94 Nneka Ogwumike (23) Liz Cambage (7) Jordin Canada (6) Crypto.com Arena
4,020 		3–5
9 May 27 @ Indiana L 96–101 Nneka Ogwumike (30) Nneka Ogwumike (10) Canada
Carter
Sykes (5) 		Indiana Farmers Coliseum
1,417 		3–6
10 May 29 @ Minnesota W 85–83 Chennedy Carter (20) Chennedy Carter (6) Carter
Sykes (4) 		Target Center
7,234 		4–6
11 May 31 Dallas W 93–91 Brittney Sykes (25) Nneka Ogwumike (10) Cambage
Sykes (4) 		Crypto.com Arena
4,852 		5–6
June : 2–5 (Home: 1–3; Road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
12 June 5 @ Phoenix L 74–81 Nneka Ogwumike (19) Nneka Ogwumike (7) Canada
Samuelson (4) 		Footprint Center
10,151 		5–7
13 June 11 Las Vegas L 72–89 Nneka Ogwumike (16) Nneka Ogwumike (9) Jordin Canada (8) Crypto.com Arena
8,200 		5–8
14 June 19 @ Dallas L 82–92 Nneka Ogwumike (17) C. Ogwumike
N. Ogwumike (10) 		Liz Cambage (5) College Park Center
3,779 		5–9
15 June 21 Washington W 84–82 Nneka Ogwumike (21) Chiney Ogwumike (9) Kristi Toliver (5) Crypto.com Arena
3,745 		6–9
16 June 23 Chicago L 59–82 Nneka Ogwumike (15) Olivia Nelson-Ododa (6) Kristi Toliver (6) Crypto.com Arena
5,627 		6–10
17 June 25 @ Seattle W 85–77 Nneka Ogwumike (24) Cambage
Nelson-Ododa (8) 		Brittney Sykes (8) Climate Pledge Arena
9,955 		7–10
18 June 27 Las Vegas L 73–79 Nneka Ogwumike (18) Cambage
N. Ogwumike (11) 		Brittney Sykes (7) Crypto.com Arena
4,200 		7–11
July : 5–6 (Home: 4–4; Road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
19 July 1 @ Dallas W 97–89 Cambage
N. Ogwumike (22) 		Liz Cambage (11) Kristi Toliver (7) College Park Center
3,187 		8–11
20 July 3 New York W 84–74 Nneka Ogwumike (22) Chiney Ogwumike (10) Jordin Canada (7) Crypto.com Arena
5,436 		9–11
21 July 4 Phoenix W 78–75 Nneka Ogwumike (23) Nneka Ogwumike (9) Jordin Canada (5) Crypto.com Arena
3,340 		10–11
22 July 7 Seattle L 69–106 Lexie Brown (16) Cambage
Nelson-Ododa
N. Ogwumike
Walker (4) 		Jordin Canada (6) Crypto.com Arena
6,389 		10–12
23 July 12 Washington L 81–94 Samuelson
Sykes (16) 		Chiney Ogwumike (10) Canada
Cambage (3) 		Crypto.com Arena
5,004 		10–13
24 July 14 Chicago L 68–80 Nneka Ogwumike (16) Chiney Ogwumike (13) Jordin Canada (8) Crypto.com Arena
5,856 		10–14
25 July 19 Indiana W 86–79 Nneka Ogwumike (35) Chiney Ogwumike (10) Jordin Canada (8) Crypto.com Arena
5,478 		11–14
26 July 21 Atlanta W 85–78 Nneka Ogwumike (20) Chiney Ogwumike (7) Jordin Canada (6) Crypto.com Arena
10,021 		12–14
27 July 23 @ Las Vegas L 66–84 Chennedy Carter (15) Jordin Canada (7) Canada
Samuelson (3) 		Michelob Ultra Arena
7,522 		12–15
28 July 28 @ Phoenix L 80–90 Chennedy Carter (23) Nneka Ogwumike (11) Nneka Ogwumike (5) Footprint Center
8,124 		12–16
29 July 31 Minnesota L 77–84 Nneka Ogwumike (23) Chiney Ogwumike (6) Jordin Canada (6) Crypto.com Arena
6,857 		12–17
August : 1–6 (Home: 0–3; Road: 1–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
30 August 2 @ New York L 73–102 Brittney Sykes (19) Brittney Sykes (6) Jordin Canada (4) Barclays Center
4,891 		12–18
31 August 3 @ New York L 61–64 Nneka Ogwumike (19) Olivia Nelson-Ododa (10) Jordin Canada (8) Barclays Center
5,315 		12–19
32 August 5 @ Atlanta L 86–88 Brittney Sykes (23) Brittney Sykes (7) Jordin Canada (8) Gateway Center Arena
3,138 		12–20
33 August 7 @ Washington W 79–76 Brittney Sykes (21) N. Ogwumike
Sykes (6) 		Jordin Canada (12) Entertainment and Sports Arena
4,200 		13–20
34 August 9 Connecticut L 71–97 Brittney Sykes (18) Brittney Sykes (7) Jordin Canada (6) Crypto.com Arena
5,789 		13–21
35 August 11 Connecticut L 69–93 Brittney Sykes (18) Nneka Ogwumike (9) Jordin Canada (5) Crypto.com Arena
4,987 		13–22
36 August 14 Dallas L 88–116 Brittney Sykes (35) Jasmine Walker (6) Canada
Sykes (5) 		Crypto.com Arena
7,245 		13–23
2022 season schedule


Standings

#
  • v
  • t
  • e
 W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
1 x – Las Vegas Aces 26 10 .722 – 15–3 13–5 13–5 9–1
2 x – Chicago Sky 26 10 .722 – 15–3 14–4 12–6 9–1
3 x – Connecticut Sun 25 11 .694 1.0 11–7 13–5 12–6 5–5
4 x – Seattle Storm 22 14 .611 4.0 10–8 13–5 9–9 6–4
5 x – Washington Mystics 22 14 .611 4.0 11–7 12–6 10–8 5–5
6 x – Dallas Wings 18 18 .500 8.0 8–10 8–10 10–8 5–5
7 x – New York Liberty 16 20 .444 10.0 10–8 9–9 7–11 6–4
8 x – Phoenix Mercury 15 21 .417 11.0 7–11 11–7 4–14 3–7
9 e – Minnesota Lynx 14 22 .389 12.0 8–10 7–11 7–11 4–6
10 e – Atlanta Dream 14 22 .389 12.0 5–13 8–10 6–12 3–7
11 e – Los Angeles Sparks 13 23 .361 13.0 6–12 7–11 6–12 3–7
12 e – Indiana Fever 5 31 .139 21.0 2–16 3–15 2–16 2–8

Notes

(#) – League Standing
x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings

Statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage  TO  Turnovers per game
 PF  Fouls per game Team leader League leader

Regular Season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Nneka Ogwumike 34 34 31.4 .544 .368 .826 6.6 2.0 1.6 0.4 18.1
Liz Cambage‡ 25 24 23.4 .509 .286 .784 6.4 2.1 0.6 1.6 13.0
Brittney Sykes 32 24 28.8 .433 .269 .770 3.7 3.7 2.0 0.7 12.7
Katie Lou Samuelson 32 29 29.5 .373 .352 .837 3.0 1.9 1.0 0.2 9.7
Jordin Canada 32 25 27.0 .384 .140 .806 2.3 5.5 1.4 0.2 9.2
Chennedy Carter 24 2 16.4 .450 .200 .745 1.9 1.9 0.6 0.4 8.9
Lexie Brown 34 16 25.0 .441 .398 .667 2.3 2.1 1.0 0.2 7.1
Chiney Ogwumike 26 7 18.4 .466 .444 .706 5.5 1.1 0.8 0.3 7.0
Kristi Toliver 11 10 19.8 .373 .361 .875 0.8 3.1 0.4 0.0 4.0
Olivia Nelson-Ododa 30 6 14.5 .566 .000 .703 2.9 0.4 0.3 0.8 4.0
Kianna Smith≠ 11 0 10.3 .314 .278 1.000 0.8 0.5 0.4 0.0 2.6
Rae Burrell 3 1 14.7 .111 .167 1.000 1.0 0.3 0.7 0.0 1.7
Jasmine Walker 32 1 8.8 .250 .200 1.000 1.5 0.2 0.2 0.1 1.6
Amy Atwell‡ 4 1 8.0 .111 .167 .000 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.8


‡Waived/Released during the season
†Traded during the season
≠Acquired during the season

Awards and honors

Recipient Award Date awarded Ref.
Nneka Ogwumike WNBA All-Star Starter June 22 [23]
Western Conference Player of the Week June 27 [24]
All-WNBA Second Team September 15 [25]
Brittney Sykes All-Defensive Second Team August 30 [26]

References

  1. ^ "2022 Los Angeles Sparks Schedule". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  2. ^ Jennings, Chantel. "Sparks parting ways with coach Derek Fisher: Source". theathletic.com. The Athletic. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  3. ^ "WNBA Transctions – Player Movement". acrossthetimeline.com. Across the Timeline. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  4. ^ "Rachel Galligan Tweet". twitter.com. Rachel Galligan. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  5. ^ "Sparks Re-Sign Lauren Cox". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  6. ^ "Sparks Re-Sign Te'a Cooper". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  7. ^ "Storm & Sparks Complete Trade". wnba.com. WNBA. February 3, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  8. ^ "Dream Acquire Erica Wheeler, 2023 First Round Pick and 2022 Second Round Pick in Trade with Sparks". dream.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  9. ^ "Sparks Sign WNBA Champion Jordin Canada". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  10. ^ "Sparks Sign WNBA All-Star Liz Cambage". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  11. ^ "Sparks Acquire WNBA Champion Lexie Brown". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  12. ^ "Sparks Announce 2022 Training Camp Roster". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  13. ^ "NEWS: The @LASparks waived Lauren Cox, Chantel Horvat, and Lexi Gordon today". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  14. ^ "Sparks Waive Three Players". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  15. ^ "LA Sparks Announce Contract Extension For Katie Lou Samuelson". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  16. ^ "NEWS: Katie Lou Samuelson has returned from overseas play. Her status has changed from partial season suspension to active ahead of tonight's game against the Minnesota Lynx". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  17. ^ "LA Sparks Part Ways with General Manager/Head coach Derek Fisher". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  18. ^ "More news today out of Los Angeles as the Sparks have waived Amy Atwell @Winsidr". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  19. ^ "Los Angeles Sparks Sign Kianna Smith to 7-day contract". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  20. ^ "Los Angeles Sparks Agree to Contract Divorce with Liz Cambage". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  21. ^ "Los Angeles Sparks Re-Sign Kianna Smith to 7-day contract". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  22. ^ "Los Angeles Sparks Sign Kianna Smith to Rest of Season Contract". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  23. ^ "AT&T WNBA All-Star Starters Announced With Seattle Storm's Sue Bird Extending Record-Number of All-Star Selections to 13". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  24. ^ @WNBA (June 27, 2022). ".@nnekaogwumike & @Sloot22 are your WNBA Players of the Week 👏" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  25. ^ "Kia WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson Leads 2022 All-WNBA First Team" (Press release). WNBA. September 15, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  26. ^ @WNBA (August 30, 2022). "Your 2022 #WNBA All-Defensive Second Team ⬇️ @athomas_25 @ezimagbegor @jus242 @BrittBundlez @gabbywilliams15 #MoreThan" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

External links

  • Official website
  • Los Angeles Sparks at ESPN.com
  • v
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Los Angeles Sparks
  • Founded in 1997
  • Based in Los Angeles, California
Franchise
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Administration
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Media
  • TV: Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles)
  • Announcers: Jim Watson, Mary Murphy