“Circus shot from Rickea Jackson and the Sparks get a walk-off winner!” shouted sportscaster Michael Grady, stunned as Jackson delivered a clutch bucket to seal the Los Angeles Sparks’ fifth straight win. It came against the defending champions, the New York Liberty, and right in front of a packed house of 16,000 at Barclays Center. Now that’s one way to hush an entire home crowd. Sure, Lynne Roberts’ side might be on the wrong side of the table right now – 4th from the bottom. But press your ears against the floorboard and you can hear the tide turning.

It’s been nine long years since the Sparks last lifted a trophy. They made a solid push in 2017 but came up just short. Since 2019, the bright lights of Tinseltown haven’t seen a playoff series, and their last postseason appearance was back in 2020. There’s a drought that’s parched every last drop of patience in Sparks Nation. But if the skies finally open up and it starts raining wins, just remember that we said it here first. And if there’s one team that might want to keep checking their rearview mirror, it’s the Lynx.

Where the Los Angeles Sparks stand: A look at their season so far

The 2024 season was a rough one for the Sparks. They finished with the worst record in the league at 8-32. Simply put, it was hard to watch. The numbers didn’t lie either. They were 10th in rebounds per game with just 32.7. Assists? Only 19.7 a night. Three-point shooting? A flat 32 percent. That’s not all. They turned the ball over 15 times per game – the second-worst in the league. And defensively? They had the fewest blocks, averaging a mere 3.2 per game. It was a season to forget.

What made their campaign even tougher to watch was the optimism that preceded it. Armed with two top-five picks, they drafted Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson with high hopes. But luck just wasn’t on their side. Brink went down after only 15 games and hasn’t been back since. And while Rickea kept quietly asserting herself as one of the key pieces of the team, her averages of 13.4 points and 3.9 rebounds just could not patch the holes in the Sparks’ ship.

Then came the fresh winds of 2025, and the season began with new hopes. Kelsey Plum came in what is to date the only trade that saw two number 1 picks get involved. A massive sign of intent from the organization going forward. They decided to part ways with Curt Miller and brought in Utah Utes women’s basketball coach Lynne Roberts. For the first time in a while, the playoffs didn’t feel like a fantasy. They felt real.

But the hype didn’t last long. The Sparks were brought back to earth quickly, winning just 3 of their first 10 games. And it didn’t take a genius to spot the issue – it was the defense. With a defensive rating of 104.3, they ranked 10th in the league. Their net rating? A wobbly -0.3. They were giving up 84.2 points per game during that early stretch, hardly a recipe for success. Offensively, things were clicking. Plum, Hamby, and Jackson were doing their part. But defensively, the gaps were glaring. Still, somehow, Lynne Roberts’ squad has kept pushing, quietly defying the odds and refusing to fold.

The recent surge in form for the Sparks

No matter how their season started, the Sparks have found a spark of their own in the last five games. Yes, four of those wins came against the 8th-seeded Mystics and the 13th-seeded Sun. But let’s not make judgments too quickly. They also beat the defending champions, the New York Liberty. And that’s not something you can just write off.

Over their last five games, the Sparks have been on fire. They’re leading the league in points per game with 97.2. Offensively, they’ve been unstoppable, posting a league-best rating of 116. And it doesn’t stop there. Their net rating? A solid 11.5, third-best during this run. The numbers don’t lie. They have been unstoppable.

Yet, their defense hasn’t improved one bit. A major red flag! They’re allowing 87.8 points per game, the third worst in the league. And it doesn’t stop there. Over the last five games, their defensive rating is 104.5 – 10th best in the league. So while the offense is lighting it up, the defense is still stuck in the same old mess.

So, how can they possibly mount a push for the playoffs if they are still this bad defensively? Well, they have a certain Cameron Brink getting ready to help them do just that.

Cameron Brink: The key to the Sparks’ playoff hopes?

18 June 2024. A date every Sparks fan remembers. It was the last time Cameron Brink suited up. What was shaping up to be a standout rookie season ended in heartbreak. The 6’4″ center tore her ACL and meniscus in a tough outing against the Connecticut Sun.

But now, the wait is finally over. After 13 long months, Brink has been medically cleared to return. “It’s a little nerve‑racking for sure. I’m just really going to try to be patient with myself because I’m definitely not where I was last year,” she said. “It’s still a work in progress, but yeah, just thankful for the fans. Really excited to be able to just go out there and do what I love.”

We are now counting days for her eventual return to action, but you might ask how she helps solve the defensive crisis for the Sparks? Well, simply put, the Sparks need someone dominant in and around the post. Right now, they’re giving up 36.9 points per game in the paint – second most in the league. On the glass, they’re grabbing 25 defensive rebounds a night, which is the third worst in the league. And blocks? Only 3 per game, again third lowest. Brink’s return could be the answer to all of their problems.

Before injuries derailed her rookie season, Cameron Brink was already showing flashes of brilliance. In just 15 games, she averaged 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game. That speaks a lot about impact, and the Sparks could do with a lot of it. Last season, only Dearica Hamby and Rickea Jackson scored in double digits. In 2025, it is clear that Roberts had unlocked what she was supposed to with Plum, having coached against her back in their college days. Plum has turned into a legit scoring threat, and her numbers have only improved. Then there is Azura Stevens, who rounds up the 4 players this year scoring in double digits.

Now, add to that Brink, who is expected to bring that much-needed equilibrium when she returns. Not only can she chip in offensively, but her presence in the paint is sorely missed. Before she got hurt, the Sparks were pulling down 33.7 rebounds per game (tied for eighth) and blocking 3.5 shots a night (tied for ninth). After she went down? Those numbers dipped to 32.0 boards (10th) and a league-worst 3.1 blocks per game.

If she can return to that level, or even build on it, she could completely shift the Sparks’ identity going forward. Of course, it’ll take time. Coming back from an ACL and meniscus tear is never easy. But with Brink’s drive, talent, and mindset, it’s hard to bet against her.

With that, let’s answer the elephant in the room. Why exactly are the Sparks the biggest threat in the WNBA playoffs?

Minnesota Lynx vs Los Angeles Sparks, round 1 in the playoffs?

In the WNBA, it’s the top 8 teams with the best records that make the playoffs, regardless of the conference. So, some years the East has more teams in, other years it’s the West. The format is pretty straightforward: the number 1 seed faces number 8, number 2 takes on number 7, and so on.

Now, as things stand, the Los Angeles Sparks have an 11-14 record and find themselves 10th in the league. Yes, this is after winning 5 games in a row. That’s how poor they have been this season. The Lynx, on the other hand, are the best team in the league with a 22-5 record. Now, assuming that the Sparks pull off the mission impossible, the chances are they will enter the playoffs as a 7th or 8th seed. And to make that work, they might only have to clear ahead of the Valkyries and the Sky. Yes, they are currently 1-2 against both of them. However, with this newfound confidence and the return of a defensive team member, the path ahead doesn’t look that tough.

That means there’s a good chance the Sparks will run into the Minnesota Lynx in the first round. One of the league’s top defenses, led by MVP favorite Napheesa Collier, might go up against one of the hottest offenses, powered by Kelsey Plum. What an exciting game it promises to be. If only that were the case throughout the season.

The Lynx and the Sparks have played 4 times against each other this season. The result? All 4 wins went Minnesota’s way. So, on paper, this potential game leans heavily in the Lynx’s favor. But stranger things have happened in this sport. We have seen how the Lynx struggle at times when Phee doesn’t perform. Will the supporting cast of Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride step up with their backs against the wall? That remains to be seen.

Also, with Alanna Smith holding it down at center and Napheesa Collier running the power forward spot, the Lynx frontcourt might have held up surprisingly well, but not without a few growing pains. There’s a bit of a pattern when it comes to who gives them trouble. Think Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso tag-teaming in Chicago, or the Austin-Iriafen duo. And count in the Seattle trio of Nneka Ogwumike, Ezi Magbegor, and Dominique Malonga as well. Simply put, against these bigger lineups, the Lynx sometimes end up scrambling. And sure, LA’s size isn’t as consistently deep. But they can compete, and once they do, they have a chance.

We’re not saying the Sparks would run away with the win if they suit up against the Lynx. But if Cameron Brink can stay healthy and find her groove, the Sparks have enough weapons in their arsenal to take the fight to the Lynx. They may be the underdogs, but they won’t go down without swinging. Of course, all of that still hinges on whether or not the Sparks can qualify for the playoffs.

Yet, no one can deny that these are exciting times for the Los Angeles Sparks fanbase. Do you think the Sparks could be the dark horses of this year’s playoffs? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!