The Los Angeles Sparks have played over a quarter of their 2026 games and have found a perfect combination of success and failure, going 6-6.
With 25 percent of the action now complete, it’s time to present quarterly team awards.
These will be similar to WNBA’s end-of-year awards, but with only Sparks players considered. So again, not saying this is the league MVP, for example, but the most valuable player on the Sparks.
Most Valuable Spark: Kelsey Plum
There were no other players who could seriously be considered more valuable for
the Sparks than Kelsey Plum.
She is averaging 24.8 points per game. The only player in the WNBA scoring more is A’ja Wilson at 25.9 points per game. On her attempts, Plum is shooting a career-high 55.8 percent. That’s the third-best shooting percentage in the WNBA for players attempting at least 10 field goals per game.
Beyond her incredible shooting and scoring, Plum is creating opportunities for her team. She is averaging 6.9 assists per game, third highest in the WNBA.
Add in her leadership, and it’s clear she is team’s No. 1 option and most valuable player.
Defensive Player of LA: Ariel Atkins
Atkins was brought to LA to give the team elite perimeter defense. Mission accomplished.
She is averaging a team-high 2.0 steals per game. That’s the second most in the WNBA, with only Rhyne Howard of the Atlanta Dream registering more at 3.1.
Her defense is fierce and voracious. She’s not just reacting to what the offense is doing; she disrupts it and causes havoc. She’s strong enough to fight over a screen and stay in front, and fast enough to drop and recover. Atkins has a nose for the ball and is tremendous at applying pressure on the ball or jumping into passing lanes to force turnovers.
On above-the-break 3s, Atkins has opponents making only 30.6 percent of their attempts. That makes her the 11th-best guard at defending this shot.
Trading Rickea Jackson to acquire Atkins might still not be a popular decision among Sparks fans, but defensively, it’s easy to see why they made that choice.
Most Improved Spark: Cameron Brink
Cameron Brink is finally healthy and showing what she can do.
Defensively, she remains dominant with 1.5 blocks and 0.6 steals per game. Offensively, though, she is taking her game to another level. On the season she’s averaging 9.2 points and shooting a career-high 52 percent from the field.
She’s also taking the most threes ever attempting 2.3 per game while shooting 33% from deep which is also a career-best.
These numbers aren’t earth shattering, but if she keeps it up, her numbers will only rise. Since she tore her ACL during her rookie season, she’s yet to have a fully healthy year. This will be her first and that should excite this franchise.
Sixth Spark of the Year: Cameron Brink
Brink is not only LA’s most improved player, but the best player off the bench for LA. She is behind Rae Burrell for most reserve points by just a decimal point, but leads the Sparks bench in rebounds with 4.3 per game. And, she is the team’s overall blocks leader.
Now that her offense is catching up to her defense, Brink is one of the most promising frontcourt players in the WNBA and is the first big subbed onto the court for the purple and gold.
Los Angeles’ Peak Performers
These are the top players for the Sparks in points, assists and rebounds. So, no analysis here, simply the platers with the highest averages.
- Scoring: Kelsey Plum, 24.8 points per game
- Rebounding: Nneka Ogwumike, 8.6 rebounds per game
- Assists: Kelsey Plum, 6.9 assists per game
