'We’re Here to Compete': Los Angeles Sparks Set Bold Goals for 2025 WNBA Season

Last season’s 8–32 record underscored how far the Sparks had to go. The team finished at the bottom of the league in offensive rating and never developed a rhythm amid a string of injuries and inconsistencies. But Roberts brings a system built on spacing, efficiency, and shot value—key principles that gave Utah national prominence in her final three seasons there.

That approach is tailor-made for Plum, who gives Los Angeles the kind of top-tier guard they’ve lacked since Chelsea Gray left in 2020. After helping anchor the Las Vegas Aces’ championship runs, Plum arrives ready to lead, not just blend in.

“Changing the culture, that’s a day-to-day process. That’s not something that you can rush,” Plum said. “There’s a lot of young talent…I’m excited about the opportunity, and I’m excited about the potential this team has.”

The move also reunites her with Dearica Hamby, who carried the Sparks through a grueling 2024 season. Hamby not only led the team in minutes but also posted a career year, elite in defensive rebounding percentage, and shot 54.7% on twos despite drawing more defensive attention than ever.

The Sparks now have a defined core, and the expectations reflect it.

“I want to make the playoffs,” Roberts said. “Is it going to be easy? No. Is it going to be challenging? Absolutely. Is it possible? For sure. That’s the goal, that’s the goal every year… you have to say that’s our goal and then you have to back up and say how are we going to get there, right, and what are the steps and the process, what’s that going to look like…”

Kelsey Plum Brings New Dynamic to Los Angeles Sparks

Depth and hope for better health make this year’s group different. In addition to Plum and Hamby, the backcourt features Belgian point guard Julie Allemand, who returns after sitting out the 2024 season to prepare for the Olympics. Aari McDonald gives the team speed and energy at the position, while Rickea Jackson offers a legitimate scoring punch after averaging 13.4 points per game in her rookie season.

Jackson, the fourth overall pick in 2024, found her rhythm late last year, scoring in double figures in all but two games post-All-Star break while stretching the floor more effectively than most first-year wings. Rae Burrell returns as a potential rotation piece after averaging a career-best 5.9 points.

The frontcourt remains anchored by Hamby, but will eventually be bolstered by Cameron Brink once she returns from a torn ACL. The 2024 No. 2 overall pick flashed elite shot-blocking and offensive range before her season was cut short. Until her return, Mercedes Russell and Maria Kliundikova will be among the options for stabilizing the interior.

If healthy, former WNBA champion Azurá Stevens could also be an X-factor. Though she missed most of last season, her skill set as a scorer remains rare among bigs.

Bigger Goals, Long-Term Vision

Roberts isn’t promising overnight success, but she’s setting a tone of accountability and consistency. She’s also returning to her home state of California after nearly three decades in college basketball. She has already begun instilling the principles that defined her Utah teams—discipline, tempo, and communication.

Beyond the court, the Sparks will retire Candace Parker’s No. 3 jersey on June 29, honoring a franchise icon and further connecting this team to its championship roots. Parker will be just the third player in Sparks history to receive the honor, joining Lisa Leslie and Penny Toler.

And with Sparky—the team’s long-running mascot—still on the sidelines while other franchises have moved on from theirs, there’s a sense that while change is in motion, the Sparks haven’t lost their identity. They’ve just been waiting for the right moment to bring it back into focus.

That moment may finally be here.