Los Angeles, CA (News4usOnline) – On a night meant to celebrate greatness, the Sparks dropped another winnable game—falling 92–85 to the Chicago Sky.
From the press box, one thing was clear: communication is breaking down. And without communication? Nothing else connects. Defense doesn’t spark offense, rotations fall apart, and chemistry looks like guesswork.
The Sparks entered this one with momentum, coming off a win. Add Candace Parker’s jersey retirement into the mix, and this was supposed to be a statement night. Instead, the story was the same: too many missed opportunities—and not enough response from the bench or the coaching staff.
Candace Parker’s Jersey Retirement Ceremony
Candace Parker’s No. 3 now hangs in the rafters beside Lisa Leslie and Penny Toler. Lisa passed the torch with a heartfelt speech. Candace followed it with grace, vulnerability, and a reminder of the love she gave to this city:
“It’s never easy to put the ball down and move on from your first love,” Parker said, pausing to hold back emotion.
The arena was packed with 13,523 fans, but the front row left something to be desired. No NBA stars were in the building. None of Candace’s TNT colleagues came to show support. And that’s disappointing.
The NBA claims to support the WNBA—but actions speak louder than statements.
Candace Parker played 13 seasons with the Sparks from 2008 to 2020, averaging 16.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. She was Rookie of the Year and MVP in 2008, Finals MVP in 2016, and helped lead the Sparks to a WNBA title that same year. She deserves more than applause—she deserved presence.
Emma Cannon: The Brightest Spark of the Night
Off the bench, Emma Cannon showed exactly what this team has been missing—production and poise:
- 15 points (6-for-7 FG)
- Perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc
- Season highs in points, made field goals, and a team-best +12 rating
After the game, Cannon reflected on her mindset and the team’s growth:
“I always stay ready so I don’t have to get ready,” she said. “It’s tough, but I feel like every loss is a lesson, and I feel like we’re still building, and we’re gonna get to where we need to be, but we just have to take these losses, and we have to turn them into something positive.”
She also addressed the team’s late-game struggles:
“I just feel like we have to learn how to finish games, and it’s not necessarily what the other team does. It’s just about us actually digging in and buying in and finishing it,” she said. “That’s something that we’re working on. We’ve been playing a great 30 minutes, but we have to put it all together.”
Stat Sheet Standouts
- Dearica Hamby: 20 pts, 10 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl — 47th career double-double
- Kelsey Plum: 22 pts, 7 ast, perfect 12-for-12 FT (career high)
- Azurá Stevens: 17 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast (matched season high)
- Shey Peddy: Season-high 6 rebounds (2 offensive)
- Odyssey Sims: Returned from a five game absence with 4 assists leading to 9 Sparks points
Rickea’s Disconnected Game
Rickea Jackson looked locked in during warmups. Her midrange game was smooth. But once the game tipped? It didn’t translate. She finished with just 6 points on 15 touches.
The problem isn’t her—it’s the system. She’s not being placed in the right positions, and the team isn’t creating space to let her do what she does best.
Kelsey Plum: Doing Too Much Alone
Kelsey Plum was all over the floor—pushing pace, hitting big shots, and creating offense. But the frustration showed. She’s being asked to do too much—run the offense, score, defend, lead—and it’s starting to weigh.
She wasn’t in the huddle during a crucial moment, which raised eyebrows from the press box. Leadership needs presence, especially in close games. Plum is clearly passionate. But passion without support starts to look like exhaustion.
Coaching Concerns: Is Coach Lynne Roberts Reaching This Team?
Let’s talk about the coaching, because it matters now more than ever.
Coach Lynne Roberts is still figuring this team out—but from the press box, it doesn’t look like the team is responding to her. And the bigger issue? She may not be responding to them either.
Key players are being pulled during hot stretches. Game momentum is being stalled by strange substitutions. And the communication—or lack of it—is showing up in every quarter.
If Roberts wants to turn this season around, she’ll need to stop over-rotating and start building trust. Use the players who are working. Build around your leaders. And speak the language of this roster: urgency, grit, and belief.
17 Games Down. 27 to Go.
The Sparks are 17 games in. That’s enough of a sample size to ask the hard questions. But it’s also enough time to still flip the script.
If everyone steps up—from the bench, to the stars, to the coaching staff—this team can make a run. But it has to start now.
And it has to start with a conversation. Because until they fix the communication, nothing else will click.
Next Up: East Coast Test
The Sparks now embark on a two-game road trip, starting with a tough matchup against the New York Liberty on Thursday, July 3 at 4 p.m. PT. After that, they travel to Indianapolis to take on the Indiana Fever on Saturday, July 5 (also at 4 p.m. PT). With back-to-back tests ahead, we’ll see if L.A. can finally turn lessons into wins.
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