2016 Los Angeles Sparks season

2016 Los Angeles Sparks season
WNBA champions
CoachBrian Agler
ArenaStaples Center
Attendance9,638 per game
Results
Record26–8 (.765)
Place2nd (Western)
Playoff finishChampions
(Defeated Minnesota Lynx 3-2)
Team Leaders
PointsNneka Ogwumike – 19.7 ppg
ReboundsNneka Ogwumike – 9.1 rpg
AssistsCandace Parker – 4.9 apg
Media
TelevisionTime Warner Cable SportsNet
ESPN2, NBATV

The 2016 WNBA season is the 20th season for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association. The season tipped off on May 15.[1] The Sparks finished with a record of 26–8, second in the Western Conference (and the league as a whole), and advanced to the WNBA Finals, which they won, three games to two, against the Minnesota Lynx. It was the team's first title since 2002.[2]

Transactions[edit]

WNBA draft[edit]

See also: 2016 WNBA draft

The Sparks made three selections in the 2016 WNBA Entry Draft in Uncasville, Connecticut:

Round Pick Player Nationality WNBA Team School/Team/Country
2 15 Whitney Knight  United States Los Angeles Sparks from Connecticut Sun Florida Gulf Coast
2 23 Brianna Butler  United States Los Angeles Sparks from Connecticut Sun Syracuse
3 29 Talia Walton  United States Los Angeles Sparks Washington

Trades and Roster Changes[edit]

Date Transaction
February 11, 2016 Signed Candace Parker[3]
February 17, 2016 Signed Nneka Ogwumike[4]
March 1, 2016 Acquired Riquna Williams and the 6th pick in the 2016 WNBA draft from the Dallas Wings in exchange for Erin Phillips, the 5th pick in the 2016 draft and, the 11th pick in the 2017 WNBA draft.[5]
March 31, 2016 Signed Essence Carson[6]
April 14, 2016 Acquired Chelsea Gray, the 15th and 23rd picks in the 2016 draft, and the 4th pick in the 2017 draft from the Connecticut Sun in exchange for Jonquel Jones and the 17th pick in the 2016 draft.[7]
May 11, 2016 Waived Talia Walton
August 30, 2016 Waived Whitney Knight[8]

Roster[edit]

2016 Los Angeles Sparks roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Height Weight DOB From Yrs
G/F 0 United States Beard, Alana 6' 1" (1.85m) 160 lb (73kg) 05-14-1982 Duke 12
F 10 Russia Belyakova, Evgeniya 6' 0" (1.83m) 150 lb (68kg) 06-27-1986 Russia R
G/F 17 United States Carson, Essence 6' 0" (1.83m) 163 lb (74kg) 07-28-1986 Rutgers 8
G 23 Serbia Dabović, Ana 6' 0" (1.83m) 157 lb (71kg) 08-18-1989 Serbia 1
F 28 Montenegro Dubljević, Jelena 6' 3" (1.91m) 179 lb (81kg) 05-07-1987 Montenegro R
G 12 United States Gray, Chelsea 5' 11" (1.8m) 170 lb (77kg) 10-08-1992 Duke 1
F/C 7 France Gruda, Sandrine 6' 4" (1.93m) 185 lb (84kg) 06-25-1987 France 4
C 42 United States Lavender, Jantel 6' 4" (1.93m) 185 lb (84kg) 11-12-1988 Ohio State 5
F 30 United States Ogwumike, Nneka 6' 2" (1.88m) 174 lb (79kg) 07-02-1990 Stanford 4
F/C 3 United States Parker, Candace 6' 4" (1.93m) 175 lb (79kg) 04-19-1986 Tennessee 8
G 20 United States Toliver, Kristi 5' 7" (1.7m) 130 lb (59kg) 01-27-1987 Maryland 7
C 21 Belgium Wauters, Ann 6' 4" (1.93m) 193 lb (88kg) 10-12-1980 Belgium 8
Head coach
United States Brian Agler (Wittenberg)
Assistant coaches
United States Tonya Edwards (Tennessee)
United States Amber Stocks (Cincinnati)
Athletic trainer
United States Courtney Watson (California)
Strength and conditioning coach
United States Kelly Dormandy (Springfield College)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Schedule[edit]

Pre-season[edit]

2016 pre-season game log
Total: 3–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 2–0)
Pre-season: 3–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 2–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 May 7 Atlanta W 88–80 Candace Parker (22) Rebecca Tobin (10) Gray, Dabović (4) Pasadena College
460 		1–0
2 May 9 @ San Antonio W 77–70 Chelsea Gray (18) Chelsea Gray (6) Ana Dabović (7) AT&T Center
2,307 		2–0
3 May 10 @ Atlanta W 69–63 Essence Carson (11) Parker, Wauters (6) Chelsea Gray (3) McCamish Pavillion
1,385 		3–0
2016 season schedule

Regular season[edit]

2016 game log
Total: 26–8 (Home: 14–3 Road: 12–5)
May: 5–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 4–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 May 15 Seattle W 96–66 Candace Parker (34) Nneka Ogwumike (7) Parker, Toliver (4) Staples Center
10,591		 1–0
2 May 20 @ Washington W 97–67 Kristi Toliver (19) Candace Parker (9) Candace Parker (6) Verizon Center
7,807		 2–0
3 May 21 @ New York W 79–72 Nneka Ogwumike (25) Nneka Ogwumike (15) Dabović, Parker, Toliver (3) Madison Square Garden
9,417		 3–0
4 May 24 @ Chicago W 93–80 Candace Parker (26) Ogwumike, Parker (9) Kristi Toliver (10) Allstate Arena
5,554		 4–0
5 May 26 @ Connecticut W 77–72 Candace Parker (22) Nneka Ogwumike (11) Ogwumike, Parker, Toliver (4) Mohegan Sun Arena
4,766		 5–0
June: 10–1 (Home: 7–1; Road: 3–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
6 June 2 San Antonio W 68–61 Nneka Ogwumike (21) Nneka Ogwumike (10) Candace Parker (7) Staples Center
8,341		 6–0
7 June 4 @ San Antonio W 74–61 Candace Parker (15) Kristi Toliver (7) Gray, Lavender (3) AT&T Center
5,403		 7–0
8 June 7 New York W 100–77 Jantel Lavender (22) Nneka Ogwumike (10) Chelsea Gray (6) Staples Center
7,103		 8–0
9 June 11 @ Dallas W 97–73 Nneka Ogwumike (32) Nneka Ogwumike (10) Candace Parker (6) College Park Center
5,061		 9–0
10 June 14 Chicago W 98–85 Nneka Ogwumike (27) Nneka Ogwumike (12) Alana Beard (6) Staples Center
7,348		 10–0
11 June 17 Phoenix W 77–71 Candace Parker (24) Candace Parker (11) Nneka Ogwumike (5) Staples Center
8,964		 11–0
12 June 21 Minnesota L 69–72 Kristi Toliver (20) Candace Parker (8) Candace Parker (6) Staples Center
9,112		 11–1
13 June 24 @ Minnesota W 94–76 Kristi Toliver (25) Ogwumike, Parker (9) Alana Beard (7) Target Center
13,003		 12–1
14 June 26 Connecticut W 80–73 Nneka Ogwumike (27) Kristi Toliver (8) Kristi Toliver (5) Staples Center
9,441		 13–1
15 June 28 Dallas W 89–84 Candace Parker (31) Candace Parker (13) Candace Parker (7) Staples Center
7,823		 14–1
16 June 30 Atlanta W 84–75 Nneka Ogwumike (38) Nneka Ogwumike (11) Kristi Toliver (8) Staples Center
10,215		 15–1
July: 6–2 (Home: 3–0; Road: 3–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
17 July 3 New York W 77–67 Nneka Ogwumike (22) Nneka Ogwumike (15) Kristi Toliver (6) Staples Center
10,003		 16–1
18 July 6 Indiana W 94–88 Nneka Ogwumike (23) Jantel Lavender (7) Chelsea Gray (8) Staples Center
8,224		 17–1
19 July 10 Washington W 93–82 Candace Parker (26) Candace Parker (11) Candace Parker (9) Staples Center
19,076		 18–1
20 July 13 @ Chicago W 77–67 Nneka Ogwumike (20) Nneka Ogwumike (11) Candace Parker (9) Allstate Arena
16,444		 19–1
21 July 15 @ Connecticut W 98–92 Jantel Lavender (25) Lavender, Ogwumike (10) Candace Parker (7) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,430		 20–1
22 July 17 @ Atlanta L 74–91 Nneka Ogwumike (26) Nneka Ogwumike (12) Candace Parker (5) Philips Arena
7,551		 20–2
23 July 19 @ Indiana L 82–92 Kristi Toliver (18) Nneka Ogwumike (14) Nneka Ogwumike (7) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
7,269		 20–3
24 July 22 @ Washington W 95–75 Nneka Ogwumike (24) Nneka Ogwumike (14) Candace Parker (6) Verizon Center
5,455		 21–3
August: 0–2 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
25 August 26 @ Seattle L 72–79 Nneka Ogwumike (28) Candace Parker (10) Candace Parker (6) KeyArena
9,481		 21–4
26 August 28 @ Phoenix L 66–70 Candace Parker (25) Candace Parker (13) Candace Parker (7) Talking Stick Resort Arena
11,905		 21–5
September: 5–3 (Home: 3–2; Road: 2–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
27 September 1 @ San Antonio W 70–61 Kristi Toliver (21) Beard, Ogwumike (9) Parker, Toliver (6) AT&T Center
3,992		 22–5
28 September 2 @ Dallas W 87–79 Nneka Ogwumike (28) Nneka Ogwumike (12) Candace Parker (5) College Park Center
5,176		 23–5
29 September 4 Indiana W 88–81 Nneka Ogwumike (21) Nneka Ogwumike (6) Nneka Ogwumike (8) Staples Center
11,332		 24–5
30 September 6 Minnesota L 74–77 Nneka Ogwumike (19) Ogwumike, Parker (8) Candace Parker (7) Staples Center
7,224		 24–6
31 September 8 Atlanta L 81–86 Carson, Gray, Parker (16) Nneka Ogwumike (8) Ana Dabović (5) Staples Center
6,152		 24–7
32 September 11 @ Seattle L 60–78 Candace Parker (20) Candace Parker (10) Alana Beard (4) KeyArena
9,348		 24–8
33 September 13 Phoenix W 90–85 Nneka Ogwumike (24) Nneka Ogwumike (10) Kristi Toliver (7) Staples Center
9,371		 25–8
34 September 16 San Antonio W 71–65 Nneka Ogwumike (17) Nneka Ogwumike (10) Nneka Ogwumike (4) Staples Center
13,519		 26–8
2016 season schedule

Playoffs[edit]

2017 playoff game log
Total: – (Home: –; Road: –)
First Round
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 September 28 Chicago Sky Candace Parker (30) Nneka Ogwumike (10) Nneka Ogwumike (6) Walter Pyramid
2 September 30 Chicago Sky Candace Parker (20) Candace Parker (11) Candace Parker (8) Staples Center
3 October 2 @ Chicago Sky Nneka Ogwumike (22) Candace Parker (15) Candace Parker (6) Allstate Arena
4 October 4 @ Chicago Sky Candace Parker Nneka Ogwumike Chelsea Gray Allstate Arena
2017 playoff schedule

Standings[edit]

Western Conference
W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
1 - Minnesota Lynx 28 6 .824 — 15–2 13–4 15–1
2 - Los Angeles Sparks 26 8 .765 2 14–3 12–5 11–5
7 - Seattle Storm 16 18 .471 12 10–7 6–11 7–9
8 - Phoenix Mercury 16 18 .471 12 11–6 5–12 6–10
e - Dallas Wings 11 23 .324 17 6–11 5–12 8–8
e - San Antonio Stars 7 27 .206 21 4–13 3–14 1–15

Playoffs[edit]

See also: 2016 WNBA Playoffs

The Sparks qualified for the 2016 playoffs, and, as the team with the second-best regular season record in the WNBA, received two automatic byes, advancing straight to the best-of-five semifinal.

First round:
Single elimination
(Sept. 21)		Second round:
Single elimination
(Sept. 24 and 25)		Semifinals:
Best-of-five
(Sept. 28 – Oct. 6)		WNBA Finals:
Best-of-five
(Oct. 9 – 20)
1Minnesota Lynx1139682
3New York Liberty948Phoenix Mercury958667
5Indiana Fever788Phoenix Mercury1011Minnesota Lynx7679758576
8Phoenix Mercury892Los Angeles Sparks7860927977
2Los Angeles Sparks95996695
4Chicago Sky1084Chicago Sky75847075
6Atlanta Dream946Atlanta Dream98
7Seattle Storm85

Note: Teams re-seeded after second round and semi-finals.

Statistics[edit]

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage  TO  Turnovers per game
 PF  Fouls per game Team leader League leader

Regular season[edit]

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Awards and honors[edit]

Recipient Award Date awarded Ref.
Candace Parker Player of the Week
Nneka Ogwumike Player of the Week
Candace Parker Player of the Week
Nneka Ogwumike Player of the Week
Nneka Ogwumike Player of the Week
Nneka Ogwumike Player of the Week
Nneka Ogwumike Player of the Week
Nneka Ogwumike Player of the Week
Nneka Ogwumike Player of the Month June
Nneka Ogwumike Player of the Month July
Nneka Ogwumike
Candace Parker
Jantel Lavender

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Los Angeles Sparks WNBA Basketball - Sparks News, Scores, Videos - College Basketball - ESPN". espn.go.com. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  2. ^ With 3.1 Seconds Left, Los Angeles Sparks Seize W.N.B.A. Title
  3. ^ "Candace Parker Re-Signs with Los Angeles Sparks - WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA".
  4. ^ "L.A. Sparks re-sign All-Star forward Nneka Ogwumike". Espn.com. February 18, 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  5. ^ "Sparks, Wings Exchange Erin Phillips, Riquna Williams, Draft Picks in Trade". WNBA. March 1, 2016. Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  6. ^ "Liberty Loses It's Essence, Carson Signs With LA Sparks • Double G Sports". doublegsports.com.
  7. ^ Los Angeles and Connecticut also trade second round positions in the 2016 WNBA Draft Archived 2016-10-21 at the Wayback Machine/
  8. ^ "Sources: Sparks waive rookie Whitney Knight". swishappeal.com. Retrieved June 19, 2024.

External links[edit]


Stub icon

This basketball-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2016_Los_Angeles_Sparks_season&oldid=1230308957"