Sparks open preseason with win over Nigeria

SAN DIEGO — The Los Angeles Sparks opened preseason play with an 89-63 win over Nigeria’s women’s national team Saturday afternoon at Viejas Arena in San Diego, Calif., giving head coach Lynne Roberts her first live look at how this group responds under game pressure.

Before the ball went up, the moment carried more meaning than a normal preseason matchup. The Sparks and Nigeria exchanged gifts at center court, shared hugs and showed respect before stepping into competition. 

It was a reminder that this game connected more than two teams. It connected the WNBA, international basketball and a Nigerian program preparing for the world stage.

For the Sparks, the afternoon was about evaluation, chemistry and rhythm. For Nigeria, it was about testing itself against WNBA talent as part of its larger preparation for international competition.

Plum Starts Sharp

Kelsey Plum wasted little time setting the tone.

Plum finished with 22 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field and 4-of-8 from three-point range. Her efficiency stood out early, especially in the first half when she looked to score and gave the Sparks control of the game. 

In the second half, her impact shifted. Instead of only looking for her own shot, Plum helped organize the offense and get teammates involved. That balance, scoring early and creating later, gave the Sparks the kind of veteran control a preseason opener needs.

Plum also pointed to the freedom in Roberts’ offense, saying the system allows players to move into different spots on the floor and makes the Sparks harder to scout. In her words, preseason is about building chemistry and figuring out what works together.

Roberts Looks Beyond the Score

During the pregame press conference, Roberts was asked what would make the preseason matchup successful regardless of the final score. Roberts said she wanted the team to stay healthy, work through different rotations, see what the rookies could do, evaluate the chemistry and get eyes on everyone.

That checklist showed up throughout the game. The Sparks used different lineups, gave rookies meaningful minutes and allowed veterans to establish rhythm without making the afternoon only about the scoreboard.

After the game, Roberts echoed that same idea, saying preseason is about “process over outcome” at this point in the season. She wanted her top players to get on-floor chemistry together while also giving other players enough time to be evaluated in different combinations.

Roberts said she was pleased with how the minutes shook out, especially with the new players added to the roster.

 She pointed to the fit of Erica Wheeler, the leadership and toughness she brings, and how Wheeler can take pressure off Plum. Roberts also called Ariel Atkins an “unbelievable fit” because of her efficiency, smoothness and overall presence.

Brink Brings the Defensive Energy

Cameron Brink gave the Sparks one of the most exciting moments of the game with her defensive presence.

Brink finished with 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting and added two blocks. One two-handed block drew a loud reaction from the Sparks bench, the kind of play that does more than stop a shot. It wakes everybody up. 

Roberts joked that Brink had two blocks that “felt like about nine” because of the energy they brought. She praised Brink’s timing, feel and rim protection, saying Wheeler even noted from the bench how nice it was to have that kind of presence behind the defense.

Brink said those moments are some of her favorites, especially when her teammates react with excitement. She also said she wants to continue expanding her game and not be known only for her defensive presence.

Veterans Help Settle the Newer Sparks

One of the clearest preseason teaching moments came in the second quarter, when the Sparks’ younger unit gave back some of the lead the veterans had built. It was not a reason to panic, but it did show why preseason minutes matter.

For a team blending established veterans with rookies and newer players, those moments become part of the learning curve. Veterans like Plum, Wheeler, Dearica Hamby, Atkins and Emma Cannon can help steady the group by communicating through defensive assignments, organizing spacing, slowing the pace when the game gets rushed and reminding younger players where the next play is supposed to come from.

The Sparks were without Rae Burrell and Nneka Ogwumike, who were listed as DNP, Coach’s Decision, giving Roberts even more reason to test different rotations and evaluate how the rest of the group responded. The official scorer’s report also listed Jihyun Park as DNP, Coach’s Decision. 

Gray Gives the Bench a Spark

Chance Gray gave the Sparks strong production off the bench, finishing with 14 points while shooting efficiently from the field and from three-point range. 

Gray’s confidence grew as the game went on, especially late, where her perimeter shooting helped the Sparks stretch the floor. Three of her four made threes came after halftime, giving Los Angeles another scoring option and showing why preseason opportunities matter for rookies fighting to prove they can contribute.

Roberts praised Gray’s mentality after the game, noting that she came in ready and knocked down shots. Roberts said Gray is smart defensively, corrects mistakes quickly and has the kind of catch-and-shoot confidence the Sparks valued when they drafted her.

Latson Finds Her Footing

Ta’Niya Latson had a slower start, with some visible frustration early as she worked to find her rhythm. But once she saw the ball go in, her confidence seemed to rise.

Roberts said Latson looked a little “deer in the headlights” in the first half, which she called understandable for a rookie in her first preseason game. But Roberts was pleased with how Latson responded in the second half, looking more under control and confident.

Roberts said she wanted to play Latson with the first group to see how she looked with more veterans around her, and she felt that helped Latson get going. She also pointed to Latson’s ability to put pressure on the rim with her downhill speed.

Latson’s performance was less about a final stat line and more about adjustment. Roberts wanted to see what the rookies could do under pressure, and Latson had to work through the type of moment preseason is built for.