Know All About Los Angeles Sparks Roster, Profile, Owner, Key Player and More

The Los Angeles Sparks are one of the WNBA's original franchises, established in 1997. Based in Los Angeles, California, they boast a rich history including three WNBA championships (2001, 2002, and 2016). Some of the well-known Los Angeles Sparks players are Lisa Leslie, Candace Parker, and Nneka Ogwumike. The Sparks have consistently been a prominent team in the Western Conference.

Los Angeles Sparks Profile

The Los Angeles Sparks played their first WNBA season in 1997, facing the New York Liberty in their first game at their home arena, The Forum. At that time, the Forum also served as the home arena for the NBA team, the Los Angeles Lakers. The Sparks earned their first playoff berth in the 1999 season when Lisa Leslie emerged as one of the star players for the franchise. The team went on to win consecutive WNBA titles, much like their NBA counterparts, the Lakers. The Sparks last won a championship in 2016 and, since then, have been having on-and-off appearances in the playoffs, sometimes even qualifying for the Conference Finals. The Los Angeles Sparks have a great PR team that knows how to brand and market the franchise in the most efficient manner possible. The Sparks have 417K followers on their Instagram page, where they can often be seen engaging with their fans and posting content about their players and everything basketball.

Los Angeles Sparks History

The history of the Los Angeles Sparks goes as far back as the establishment of the WNBA. A Sparks player was the first to score the league’s first two points. The Sparks are embedded in LA’s sporting culture, with many local fans counting the franchise as part and parcel with the Lakers. After Leslie's retirement, the Sparks welcomed another generational talent, Candace Parker, drafted first overall in 2008. Parker immediately made history, becoming the first Los Angeles Sparks player to win both Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. The Purple and Gold in the WNBA have a decorated history that also shaped the W in its own way. This article dives deeper into the history of the Los Angeles Sparks, the famous players that became the cornerstone of this franchise, its records, and everything a fan needs to know about this team.

Los Angeles Sparks Stats

As of the 2025 season, the Los Angeles Sparks hold a 4-9 record, placing them 6th in the Western Conference. They're performing very well, securing 5th rank in the league with 83.4 points per game and boasting a 4th-best 35.6% from three-point range. However, their defense has been a challenge, allowing 86.0 points per game (10th in the league) and ranking 10th in defensive rating. Individually, Kelsey Plum leads the team in scoring with 20.9 points and 5.6 assists per game, while Dearica Hamby is a key presence with 17.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per contest. Azurá Stevens also contributes significantly with 13.3 points and 8.7 rebounds. We have presented the detailed Los Angeles Sparks Stats of all the players in the 2025 season as per ESPN :

Los Angeles Sparks Famous Players

The Los Angeles Sparks have been home to some of the WNBA's most iconic figures. The Sparks have a detailed analysis before forming a team; they form an all-around team, which has helped them to win championships many times. Many players have become the face of the team, as well as have created a huge fanbase for the team. Here are some of the most famous players in the WNBA emerging from the Los Angeles Sparks roster:

Candace Parker

Candace Parker is widely regarded as one of the greatest WNBA players ever. She was selected as the first overall pick by the Sparks in the 2008 WNBA draft. She spent 13 seasons with the Sparks, earning several personal records and accolades in the WNBA. She won the WNBA championship with the Sparks in 2016. She is a WNBA legend with a long list of achievements. She's a 3x WNBA Champion (Sparks 2016, Sky 2021, Aces 2023), the first to win titles with three different teams. Parker also boasts 2x WNBA MVP (2008, 2013), WNBA Finals MVP (2016), WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2020), and was the 2008 Rookie of the Year (the only player to win MVP and Rookie in the same season). She is a 7x All-WNBA First Team selection and a 7x WNBA All-Star, further leaving her impact on the league.

Nikki Teasley

Nikki Teasley played with the Sparks for two seasons, from 2002 to 2005. She was a flashy guard who helped the Sparks win their second consecutive title by hitting a clutch three-pointer in the final seconds. Her notable achievements include a 2002 WNBA Championship with the Los Angeles Sparks, where she hit a game-winning shot in the Finals. She was also named the 2003 WNBA All-Star Game MVP and earned All-WNBA Second Team honors twice (2003, 2004). Teasley also led the WNBA in assists in both 2004 and 2006.

Lisa Leslie

Lisa Leslie was part of the first LA Sparks roster in 1997 and remained with the team till 2009. She is a 3x WNBA MVP and spent her entire career with the Sparks before hanging up her shoes in 2009. She has won two consecutive championships in LA in 2001 and 2002, where she was crowned the Finals MVP both times. She's a 2x WNBA Finals MVP (2001, 2002) and was the first player to dunk in a WNBA game, and retired as the league's all-time leading scorer and rebounder. She's also a 4x Olympic Gold Medalist with Team USA.

Tina Thompson

Tina Thompson is an LA native who joined the Sparks after the Houston Comets folded in 2008. In 2009, she played alongside Candace Parker and Lisa Leslie. She became the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer, passing Lisa Leslie. Being the No. 1 overall pick in the inaugural 1997 WNBA Draft is a true league pioneer. She won four consecutive WNBA championships with the Houston Comets (1997-2000), forming a dynasty. A 9-time WNBA All-Star and 2000 All-Star MVP, she retired as the league's all-time leading scorer. Thompson also secured two Olympic gold medals with Team USA (2004, 2008).

Kelsey Plum

Kelsey Plum is the most recent addition to the Sparks’ roster. She was part of the Las Vegas Aces roster until 2024 before being traded to LA in the WNBA 2025 free agency. Kelsey Plum brings in the experience of winning championship titles and could very well bolster the defense for LA in the upcoming season. Being the No. 1 pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft, she is a highly accomplished guard. She's a 2x WNBA Champion (2022, 2023 with Las Vegas Aces), a 3x WNBA All-Star, and the 2022 All-Star Game MVP. Plum was also named the 2021 WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year and a 2022 All-WNBA First Team selection. She holds multiple gold medals with Team USA, including 3x3 Olympic gold.

Los Angeles Sparks Roster

The Los Angeles Sparks saw significant roster shifts for 2025. Most notably, they acquired Kelsey Plum via trade. Key departures included Stephanie Talbot (expansion draft), Kia Nurse (free agency), and Aari McDonald (waived). The Sparks also added rookies Sarah Ashlee Barker and Sania Feagin through the draft, and have utilized hardship contracts for players like Grace Berger and Shey Peddy. The following is the current Los Angeles Sparks Roster, as per ESPN :

Los Angeles Sparks Head Coach

Lynne Roberts is the head coach for the Los Angeles Sparks. She was announced as the new coach for the Sparks on November 19, 2024, replacing Curt Miller. She previously coached at the collegiate level with 27 years of coaching experience and has served as the head coach at Chico State, Pacific, and Utah. As per ESPN, when she was announced as the head coach for the Sparks, she remarked, “I was 100 percent invested at Utah. It just kind of felt like this is a golden opportunity. As a competitor, the chance to coach the best in the world, it’s what I want.” Under Roberts, the Los Angeles Sparks marked their 2024 season with an 8-32 record by finishing 6th in the West. Though playoffs slipped through their chances in the last season, the 2025 season, with Kelsey Plum’s addition to the roster, could promise a playoff berth contention for the Sparks.

Los Angeles Sparks Assistant Coach

The following are the assistant Los Angeles Sparks coaches under head coach Lynne Roberts’ coaching staff at the LA Sparks:

• Nikki Blue: Nikki Blue is a former WNBA player who had previously played for the Washington Mystics and the New York Liberty. She has been an assistant coach for universities such as UNLV, Cal State Bakersfield, Grand Canyon, and Arizona State. Furthermore, she was also an assistant coach for the Phoenix Mercury from 2022-23 and briefly served as the team’s interim head coach as well.
• Zak Buncik: Zak Buncik is an assistant coach under Lynne Roberts’ coaching staff at the LA Sparks. He has spent nine seasons as an assistant coach for the UT Arlington men’s basketball team under head coach Scott Cross from 2010-2018.

Los Angeles Sparks Owner

The Los Angeles Sparks were first owned by the Lakers’ owner Jerry Buss, who operated the franchise as a sister franchise to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Buss family remained at the helm of the Sparks’ ownership until 2006. Since then, several Los Angeles Sparks owners have changed, the most recent being the Sparks LA Sports Group. This group is owned by Lakers legend Magic Johnson, Mark Walter, Stan Kasten, Todd Boehly, Bobby Patton, and Eric Holoman.

Los Angeles Sparks Worth

The Los Angeles Sparks are valued at $235 million, according to Forbes' valuation of the 2025 most valuable WNBA team. This figure makes them the 8th most valuable franchise in the WNBA. In the 2025 season, the Sparks generated approximately $16 million in revenue. The team is owned by Sparks LA Sports, this ownership group took control in 2014, ensuring the team remained in Los Angeles. The Sparks have also recently secured a significant "eight-figure" multi-year jersey patch sponsorship deal with financial services company Albert, indicating growing financial health and marketability.

Los Angeles Sparks Stadium

The Los Angeles Sparks play their home games at the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, California. They have called this as Los Angeles Sparks Stadium since the 2001 WNBA season. Crypto.com Arena is a multi-purpose arena that also hosts the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers and the NHL's Los Angeles Kings. For Sparks games, the arena typically offers a capacity of around 13,141 seats, though they set a team single-game attendance record of 19,103 fans at the venue in 2024. The Los Angeles Sparks recently signed a five-year extension to continue playing at Crypto.com Arena through 2029, cementing their long-term presence at the iconic Los Angeles Sparks Stadium.

Los Angeles Sparks Championships

The Los Angeles Sparks boast a proud history of winning three WNBA championships. Their first two titles came in a dominant back-to-back fashion in 2001 and 2002. Led by the legendary Lisa Leslie, the Sparks swept the Charlotte Sting in the 2001 Finals and then defeated the New York Liberty in 2002 to secure their consecutive triumphs. After a period of strong contention but no championships, the third Los Angeles Sparks Championship came in 2016. This time, with superstars Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike leading the way, they claimed their third championship in a thrilling five-game series against their rivals, the Minnesota Lynx.

Los Angeles Sparks Records

As discussed before Los Angeles Sparks have won three WNBA Championships (2001, 2002, 2016), demonstrating sustained success. Historically, they have one of the league's best all-time regular-season records with 534 wins and 412 losses, a .564 winning percentage, as of the end of the 2024 season. The Sparks have made 20 playoff appearances, more than any other team in the league. They also hold the record for most playoff games played (90) and are tied for most playoff wins (47). Individually, Sparks legends like Lisa Leslie hold franchise records for points and rebounds, while Nikki Teasley leads in assists. Los Angeles Sparks Records are represented in the following table below: One can very well notice that Lisa Leslie was a crucial part of the Sparks’ successes until her retirement in 2009. Other players, such as Candace Parker, have also been integral to LA’s successes in the W over the years. Here’s a breakdown of LA’s key events over the years, as per Basketball Reference data: