Last season, the LA Sparks looked like they were holding all the cards in this game. The odds were in their favour.
A pair of old Aces (Dearica Hamby and Kelsey Plum). Two rooks for the chessboard (Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson). Hollywood had a mix of vets and youth in revolt that could have challenged the super-charged franchises in Las Vegas and New York.
And if you thought that was something, in the off-season they brought back their legend Nneka Ogwumike for this year’s 30th anniversary season. Nostalgic, all the way down to the throwback jerseys. Not to mention, there was another reunion with gunner Erica Wheeler.
Then, thanks to trades, injuries and calling it a career, the wheels began to fall off. One by one.
First, the Sparks show seemed to think trading super sophomore Rickea Jackson to the Chicago Sky was a good idea. Action Jackson was stepping it up all last year when the Brinks truck was backed up off the block. Sure, the amazing Ariel Atkins on defence came back from the Windy City, but it was a pity to lose Rickea after all she did for a floundering franchise.
In year two, Cameron Brink has been making a case for Sixth Woman of the Year with the way she swats everything in sight. But the sick note super sub has been on the brink of injury all year.
A superstar constant for the Sparks has been Dearica Hamby, going ham whenever the sisterhood of purple and gold calls on it. She had to step it up when her former running mate Kelsey Plum went down with another injury to the Sparks roster struggling to catch fire and set the fuse alight.
Plum is always hot, mind you. She was having an MVP season before she got hurt, and in a contract year, she was playing like a few extra zeroes on her next inked deal were depending on it.
The Sparks weren’t sure she’d sign with them. Not after this season. So, on deadline day they shipped her to the Phoenix Mercury for a player (youngster Monique Akoa Makani) and picks (a 2027 first-round, and a second-round a year later).
Now, if all that wasn’t enough, a few days after Los Angeles Sparks great Candace Parker entered the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Madame President, Nneka Ogwumike announced that this will be her last season in the W, revealing her impending retirement.
It’s time to win for the prez, LA! Despite the fact that, as of press time, the Los Angeles Sparks have now become eliminated from playoff contention, following a devil of a nightmare blowout loss against Angel Reese and her Atlanta Dream in their own house.
The Sparks have still been trying to keep that flame lit. Battling in more close contests than their hearts can take. Most “final” Sparks social media posts feature their famous starting five huddled together in solidarity. Hamby, Nneka, Atkins, Wheeler and… Rae Burrell. A rare Sparks sighting of strength in what might be another lost season in Los Angeles. Especially with everyone abandoning ship like LeBron et al for the Laker brothers.
The Sparks have more in the way of their future. Chance Gray isn’t Chelsea Gray, but if she sticks around, unlike the Cooke’s and Canada’s before her, she’ll be set. Meanwhile, fellow impressive rookie Jihyun Park makes history as the first South Korean guard drafted in the WNBA. She’s been balling, too. Vets like Emma Cannon and Kate Martin will aid in their development.
Yet it’s the 26-year-old Rae Burrell whose time is now. Emerging as the star many thought Rickea Jackson would be here. After this season, Burrell will give the Sparks a big-three alongside Brink and Hamby, now Plum and soon Ogwumike are LA WNBA history.
Burrell brings averages of 14.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and almost a steal to bear. She’s not the focal point of the offense, Dearica and Nneka are, but like what Erica has in the wheelhouse, Rae will get hers. Finding her shot and knifing through the defence when the other players just can’t cut it. Burrell buries buckets like a mortician the way she catches bodies on D. Fluid and going with the team and her own flow.
It might not be an All-star year, but here’s to next season. Besides, it’s certainly a most improved one. Think of it like when Gabby Williams had her coming out party for France against Team USA in the Paris 2024 Olympics Gold medal game. At that time, Williams was merely a memory in the W. After her valiant effort against the mighty US women’s team she was signed by Seattle. And now she’s a superstar with the Golden State Valkyries. A gold standard of All-stars in this league.
Armed with a headband like Austin, Burrell is the best thing to happen to LA basketball since Reaves signed on the dotted line after his own breakout. The Sparks need to make sure they don’t lose this free agent to be either. Time to pay the woman (and all those in the league) what she and everyone else is worth.
The former ninth pick in the 2022 draft had a career high 28-points, to go along with three rebounds and assists, and a steal and a block, in a brutal loss to the Liberty. She’s led the Sparks in scoring for three-consecutive games and is regularly putting up numbers of around 20 points a night. And the shooting guard/small forward just looks so driven on the drive and passionate in the paint out there. No matter who or what is standing in her way.
With Plum gone and Ogwumike almost out of here, headed for the Hall and the rafters, the Sparks are searching for an identity between Brink and Hamby. Rae Burrell could be that star. Or she will be for another team.
It’s finally time for a happy Hollywood ending again.
Let Rae play her part.
