The Sparks finished the season with a 21-23 record and were just two games away from reaching their stated goal of making the playoffs.
While they failed to make the postseason, there were still a lot of impressive individual performances that deserve acknowledgment and recognition.
So, it’s time to give out some team awards. We’ll give out Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year and so on, exclusively for the Sparks.
Most Valuable Player – Kelsey Plum
Several players had career years for the Sparks, but none played better
than Plum.
Los Angeles had to give up the No. 2 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft to trade for Plum, so there was a need for her to demonstrate that this decision was the right one.
In all aspects, both tangible and intangible, Plum delivered.
She averaged 19.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game. Plum not only had the most points and assists on the team, but she also scored more than any Sparks guard ever has in a single season.
Also, her 35.1 minutes per game were the most by any player in the WNBA.
Her leadership and top play helped the Sparks win 13 more games compared to last season, a significant improvement that justified the franchise’s investment in Plum.
When you add up her numbers, production and veteran leadership, it becomes clear that Plum was the most valuable player for the Sparks.
Defensive Player of the Year – Cameron Brink
Defense wasn’t exactly a strong suit for the Sparks. They had the fourth-worst defensive rating at 108.5 and gave up 11.6 second-chance points each game, which was the second-most in the WNBA.
Still, some players stood out defensively for Los Angeles.
Brink only played during the second half of the season, but when she returned from her ACL injury, she was great. She averaged 1.4 blocks, the most on the team and also averaged 0.5 steals per game.
Not much went right on defense for the 2025 Sparks, but one thing they do know is that Brink is a player they can rely on from a defensive perspective.
Most Improved – Azurá Stevens
Some awards are easier to give out than others. When it comes to which Spark improved the most, the answer was clearly Stevens. She averaged 12.8 points, eight rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. Her points, rebounds, steals and assists numbers were all career highs for the eight-year forward.
Stevens also started in every game this season, a feat only she and Dearica Hamby accomplished with the Sparks.
This level of play is something no one could have realistically expected from Stevens and it’s great that she was able to reach these heights.
Sixth Player of the Year – Rae Burrell
Head coach Lynne Roberts didn’t rely much on her bench. However, when she did look for reserves to play, she would often go to Burrell. She averaged 7.4 points when coming off the bench and had a plus-minus of +1.8, which was the best of any reserve player on the Sparks.
Burrell took steps forward as a player this season, becoming someone the Sparks could rely on to provide an offensive boost off the bench.
If Burrell can continue to improve, her role will only get bigger and better in 2026.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
