BRADENTON, FL – In a season that was improbable amidst a global pandemic and continuous protests of social injustices and police brutality throughout our country, the Los Angeles Sparks still had the drive to win a WNBA championship.
Unfortunately, for the second straight year, the three-seeded Sparks were eliminated from the Wubble by the seventh-seeded Connecticut Sun yet again. A year after the Sun swept the Sparks 3-0 in the semifinals, history repeated itself as a suddenly surging Connecticut team dominated a short-handed Sparks team.
Despite earning a first round bye, the Sparks were forced to play a second round, single elimination playoff game without star center Nneka Ogwumike. She was a late scratch due to a migraine headache.
It was a huge loss for the Sparks, who were never able to get into a rhythm against a Sun team that played suffocating defense combined with a balanced offensive attack with five players scoring in double figures. DeWanna Bonner led the way with 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists. Alyssa Thomas had 19 pts, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists.
The Sparks’ lone bright spot was Candace Parker, recently named Defensive Player of the Year by the AP, who left it all out on the floor with 22 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists playing in all 40 minutes. It was her 19th career playoff double-double, which is third all-time.
Parker did all she could to will the Sparks to a win, but it simply wasn’t enough as the absence of Ogwumike and the struggles of the team were too much to overcome.
“I don’t think there was anything else she could do,” head coach Derek Fisher said. “I think Candace deserves a lot of credit for us even being here tonight. For her to find ways to stay healthy, to stay in good shape, it says a lot about who she is. Her leadership was key tonight (and) throughout the entire season.”
Chelsea Gray who struggled all game scoring just four points with no assists also marveled about her friend and teammate.
“She’s great, she’s greatness,” Gray said of Parker. “It’s amazing to be her teammate.”
The question with the Sparks is where do they go from here? Despite being just four years removed from their last championship, and playing the season without key players like Kristi Toliver and Chiney Ogwumike, there’s a sense that changes could still be coming.
Gray and Parker are both free agents this offseason and must decide if they want to stay in L.A. or seek greener pastures. Parker has spent all 13 years of her illustrious career with the Sparks being extremely loyal to the team that drafted her with the first overall pick in 2008.
“My decision won’t be decided by what others think,” Parker said. “I would rather not quit than take the easy way out any day.”
However, with limited peak years remaining, she also doesn’t want to keep missing out on championship opportunities.
“It’s been 13 years of the future being bright, at some point we gotta put it together,” Parker said. “I don’t want to leave L.A., but at the same we gotta do better. We can’t keep saying next year.”
Not maximizing their championship potential could lead to the organization breaking up the core of the team and moving into a new direction.
