{"id":265537,"date":"2025-11-01T19:34:26","date_gmt":"2025-11-01T19:34:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/265537\/"},"modified":"2025-11-01T19:34:26","modified_gmt":"2025-11-01T19:34:26","slug":"its-not-a-rebuild-for-the-sparks-who-look-to-contend-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/265537\/","title":{"rendered":"It’s not a rebuild for the Sparks, who look to contend now"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Last November, gathered along the concourse of Crypto.com Arena, newly appointed Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts<\/a> issued a clear directive on her first day for the 2025 season: to win. A tall order coming off the worst season in franchise history.<\/p>\n

Seated beside her, general manager Raegan Pebley<\/a>, certain she had chosen the right leader to revive a franchise that had tumbled far from its championship standard, echoed Roberts\u2019 belief.<\/p>\n

Five months later, back on that very concourse, Roberts\u2019 message remained unmistakable: \u201cWe\u2019re not just happy to be here. \u2026 We want to compete, and every time we put on that jersey, we want to win.\u201d<\/p>\n

The message, trickling down from the Sparks<\/a>\u2019 front office to the coaching staff to the players, is unified \u2014 it\u2019s not a rebuild, nor a restart, but a reclamation.<\/p>\n

After years of decline, an offseason injection of capital followed by a franchise-altering trade and the signing (and re-signing) of championship-experienced veterans, signaled a push to restore the reputation of a flagship WNBA team in one of the league\u2019s marquee markets.<\/p>\n

While desire alone won\u2019t guarantee victories, especially for a team with just eight last season, this season has already started on a promising note with a dominant 84-67 victory<\/a> that spoiled the expansion Golden State Valkyries\u2019 first regular-season game on Friday.<\/p>\n

With last year behind them, the focus is on ending a four-year playoff drought.<\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t been shy about saying I want to make the playoffs,\u201d Roberts said on what first-year success looks like. \u201cWith the roster we have, we can. Is it going to be hard? Yeah, climbing is hard. Changing things is hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a reclamation to take hold and a climb back into playoff relevance to become a reality, the Sparks will rely on the dogged leadership of their newest star, Kelsey Plum<\/a>, acquired in a three-team trade<\/a> in January. The fiery floor general is not just here to run the point. She\u2019s here to lead.<\/p>\n

A fresh voice on the team, Plum brings a superstar stature to complement fellow All-Star Dearica Hamby<\/a>. Their reunion is a full-circle moment. After six seasons and a championship together in Las Vegas, they\u2019re back on the same side, this time with something to prove in L.A.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s no mystery that they\u2019re our best players, and when your best players are also your hardest workers, they lead by trying to empower,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cThe most impactful part is that they do it without ego. They\u2019re very confident. \u2026 It\u2019s impossible as a young player not to be affected by that. \u2026 But it\u2019s in a way that\u2019s never threatening or intimidating.\u201d<\/p>\n

This season, the team will lean on the duo\u2019s championship pedigree, counting on them to instill the mindset and habits of a winning culture. So far, the two have led in different but equally impactful ways.<\/p>\n

In stepping into a new leadership role, Plum sets the tone with fierce competitiveness, pushing younger teammates through example and empowerment. Hamby counters with understanding and steadiness, serving as a calming presence and mentor. This dichotomy of leadership styles could prove instrumental in a locker room filled with rookies and rising stars.<\/p>\n

\"parks <\/p>\n

Sparks guard Kelsey Plum, bringing the ball up the court while defended by Valkyries guard Kate Martin, had 37 points, six assists and five steals in a season-opening win Friday.<\/p>\n

(Jeff Chiu \/ Associated Press)<\/p>\n

Plum arrives with an impressive list of accolades \u2014 two-time champion, three-time All-Star, Sixth Woman of the Year, Olympic gold medalist. Those credentials could easily stoke ego or entitlement, but by all accounts, her demeanor in the locker room is anything but that. Teammates describe her as grounded and approachable. They\u2019ve quickly rallied behind her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI enjoy coming to work every day,\u201d said forward Rickea Jackson<\/a>, entering her second season. \u201cTo be part of something like this, it\u2019s a breath of fresh air. Some people try to overstep or be a stickler, but she [Plum] does just enough. She says just enough. Her energy speaks for itself \u2014 she doesn\u2019t have to feel like she has to go out and get respect.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Plum, this season is about fulfilling the blueprint Pebley and Roberts outlined in their first conversation. Their shared commitment to restoring the Sparks\u2019 championship standard \u2014 something the franchise hasn\u2019t lived up to in nearly a decade \u2014 convinced Plum to approve the trade months ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything starts and ends with vision \u2014 you operate out of a vision,\u201d Plum said. \u201cIn life, you\u2019ve got to adapt and continue to grow and get better. And I understand there\u2019s been a lull here, and everyone\u2019s aware of that. \u2026 I\u2019m here to not only build culture, but affect winning, and I think they\u2019re on the same trajectory.\u201d<\/p>\n

After years of contributing to championship-caliber teams, Plum is champing at the bit to lead her own squad. She believes that focusing on executing the game plan and driving team success will naturally lead to individual accolades.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are a lot of players who can put up empty stats, but for me, it\u2019s about how I can help this team win,\u201d Plum said. \u201cI understand where we were last year, and my goal is to significantly change that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Statistically, Hamby and Plum rank among the WNBA\u2019s elite duos. Last season, Hamby led the team, averaging 17.3 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. Plum brings added offensive depth with a top-10 scoring average (17.8 points) and precision shooting from beyond the arc \u2014 she was third in the league with 110 made three-pointers.<\/p>\n

After one game, the two are already thriving under Roberts\u2019 new system, which stresses freedom \u2014 freedom to stretch the floor, create more open three-point opportunities and boost offensive output through a \u201cpositionless\u201d approach. Plum scored 37 points \u2014 the most ever in a WNBA season opener \u2014 while Hamby recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds against the Valkyries.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s clear they have on-court chemistry,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cThey\u2019re not afraid to use their voice. \u2026 I can call something, and then those two are kind of whispering about how they\u2019re going to run an audible, and it almost always works.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a team, everyone from decade-long veterans such as Plum and Hamby to rookies Sarah Ashlee Barker and Sania Feagin, is learning the system together, fostering a shared urgency to get on the same page and reap the benefits of a reset.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like we are ahead of the curve in terms of our newness,\u201d said Jackson of the reimagined Sparks. \u201cEveryone\u2019s a hooper, everybody\u2019s a dog. You can tell we just want to win at the end of the day\u2026 We hold each other accountable, and no one takes it personally.\u201d<\/p>\n

At their core, the Sparks are a youthful roster. Jackson, Cameron Brink and Rae Burrell \u2014 all under 25 \u2014 were starters last season and represent the foundation of the team\u2019s future.<\/p>\n

For now, Jackson appears poised to take a step forward from the start. She spent the offseason sharpening her skills in Unrivaled, the women\u2019s professional three-on-three basketball league.<\/p>\n

Jackson\u2019s play has many picking her as the WNBA\u2019s next breakout star \u2014 a high bar that comes with even higher pressure for last year\u2019s No. 4 overall draft pick. A standout from one of the deeper draft classes in recent memory, Jackson is expected to ascend from rookie starter to potential All-Star.<\/p>\n

\"Sparks <\/p>\n

Sparks forward Dearica Hamby, right, gets past Valkyries forward Monique Billings for a layup during a season-opening win on Friday.<\/p>\n

(Jeff Chiu \/ Associated Press)<\/p>\n

Burrell also benefited from Unrivaled, but she suffered an apparent knee injury in Friday\u2019s opener against the Valkyries and had to be carried off the court by teammates. It\u2019s unclear how much time she could miss, but it might be significant.<\/p>\n

Brink, Jackson\u2019s rookie classmate, is still rehabbing from aknee injury. On media day, she offered a positive update, saying she feels confident about her recovery.<\/p>\n

Barring setbacks, Brink is expected back around the All-Star break in mid-July. She participated in parts of training camp, building chemistry with Plum, but was occasionally absent and seen in a walking boot due to \u201cfoot discomfort,\u201d per the team. The organization remains cautious in its approach and says Brink \u201ccontinues to move in a positive direction.\u201d<\/p>\n

Azur\u00e1 Stevens is stepping up to fill the frontcourt gap in Brink\u2019s absence. A former champion with the Chicago Sky, now in her second stint in L.A., Stevens also competed in Unrivaled this offseason. She helped lead Rose BC to the inaugural championship.<\/p>\n

Pebley and Roberts shaped the roster through close collaboration. While they aligned on many decisions and diverged on others, Pebley says every move stemmed from open dialogue and thoughtful debate.<\/p>\n

Now in her second year as GM, Pebley is intrinsically linked to Roberts, with their roster-building synergy central to the team\u2019s foundation. A unified approach is believed to give Roberts, an accomplished leader with 27 years of college coaching experience but new to the pros, the best chance to succeed in her first WNBA season and years to come.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are really working hard to make sure that we\u2019re building to a win-now mentality, but also win in the future,\u201d Pebley said. \u201cAnd there\u2019s a balance. \u2026 There\u2019s a lot of thoughtfulness that has to go into all of these decisions to make that happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Against the Valkyries, the starting lineup featured Plum \u2014 the lone newcomer \u2014 alongside 12-year veteran Odyssey Sims in the backcourt, Jackson and Hamby at forward with Stevens anchoring the frontcourt. The plan is to stick with this lineup until Brink returns.<\/p>\n

Winning is at the forefront this season. The hope is that the organization has built a roster around Plum and Hamby, a pair of All-Stars capable leading the team on a postseason run. .<\/p>\n

Plum is ready for the task.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was put in this position to be able to carry a heavier load,\u201d Plum said. \u201cAnd I have broad shoulders.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Last November, gathered along the concourse of Crypto.com Arena, newly appointed Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts issued a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":265538,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[142666,5041,24868,64676,142667,15553,24869,13544,68329,36408,4694,5190,23629,99,1599,434,2394],"class_list":["post-265537","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-wnba","tag-blueprint-pebley","tag-cameron-brink","tag-hamby","tag-last-season","tag-offseason-injection","tag-player","tag-plum","tag-point","tag-rickea-jackson","tag-roberts","tag-roster","tag-season","tag-sparks","tag-sports","tag-team","tag-wnba","tag-year"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/265537","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=265537"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/265537\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/265538"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=265537"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=265537"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=265537"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}