LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Sparks had been searching for the balance between defensive growth and offensive rhythm through the first two games of the season.
On Friday night against the Toronto Tempo, they finally turned progress into a result. The Sparks defeated the Tempo 99-95 at Crypto.com Arena for their first win of the season. But then, that same Toronto team came back two days later on Sunday to hand LA its third defeat in the first four games of the season.
The proper balance the Sparks were seeking and got in their first encounter against the Tempo went missing in the two teams rematch. The Sparks had a double-digit advantage in rebounding (43-30) and had more assists (26-17) than the Tempo and still found a way to lose, 106-96.
Right now, that’s not the focus. The focus is the Sparks picking up their first win of the season.
The win came after Los Angeles opened the season with losses to the Las Vegas Aces and Indiana Fever, games that showed flashes but not enough consistency to close.
Against Toronto in the first game, the Sparks showed why the early growing pains did not mean the pieces were missing. They just needed to connect.
Wheeler Helps Sparks Get Organized
Before the game, head coach Lynne Roberts made a change to the starting lineup, moving Erica Wheeler into the point guard spot and shifting Kelsey Plum off the ball. The goal was to give the Sparks more structure offensively.
“We just have not been organized offensively very well,” Roberts said before the game. “Hopefully we can play a little more organized.”
That organization showed early. The Sparks opened the game on a 10-0 run and eventually built a 21-2 lead before Toronto settled in. Los Angeles led 28-17 after the first quarter, giving itself the kind of start it did not have against Las Vegas or Indiana.
After the game, Roberts praised Wheeler’s impact.
“She was phenomenal,” Roberts said. “She ran the show.”
Wheeler finished with 10 points and seven assists, helping the Sparks settle into the kind of flow they had been searching for.
Offense Finally Catches Up
The Sparks had been putting heavy emphasis on defense, and that focus started to show in the previous game against Indiana. But the next step was finding offense without losing that defensive mindset.
Against Toronto, the Sparks finally gave their defense enough support.
Los Angeles shot 63.8% from the field, finished with 26 assists on 37 made baskets and had six players score in double figures. That ball movement gave the Sparks the balance they had been missing.
“I think that’s the way we want to play,” Roberts said. “We had six players in double figures, 26 assists on 37 makes. That’s how we want to play.”
The difference was not just that shots fell. The difference was that the Sparks were taking better shots. The ball moved, the pace looked cleaner and Los Angeles did not have to depend on one player to carry the offense.
That mattered for a team playing in a free-flowing system with new pieces still learning each other.
Plum and Ogwumike Lead the Way
Plum led the Sparks with 27 points, nine assists and three steals, giving Los Angeles both scoring and playmaking. She scored 18 of her 27 points in the second half, helping the Sparks answer when Toronto made its late push.
Nneka Ogwumike added 20 points, five rebounds and three assists, continuing to provide the steady presence the Sparks have leaned on early in the season.
Dearica Hamby added 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while Rae Burrell scored 13. Wheeler and Cameron Brink each added 10 points, giving the Sparks the six double-figure scorers Roberts pointed to after the game.
For a team trying to find rhythm, that balance was the story.
Toronto Makes Sparks Finish
The Tempo did not go away quietly.
Toronto, a new WNBA franchise, came into Los Angeles with momentum after earning its first win in franchise history earlier in the week. Friday was also the first matchup between the Sparks and Tempo, making the game part of Toronto’s early franchise history and another test for a Sparks team still trying to build its own identity.
Brittney Sykes, a familiar face and former Spark, led Toronto with 27 points. Nyara Sabally added 14 points and nine rebounds, while Laura Juskaite scored 16. Julie Allemand, who played for the Sparks last season, was another familiar face on the Tempo roster.
Roberts said before the game that Allemand’s passing and ability to find kickout shooters would be something the Sparks needed to manage. Toronto proved why that mattered, especially in the second half.
The Tempo scored 57 points after halftime and cut into a lead that had once reached 20. Toronto kept pushing, forcing Los Angeles to close instead of coast.
“That’s a WNBA team, and they’re coached by one of the all-time greats in the league,” Roberts said. “They’re not going to just go away.”
First Win, More Lessons
The Sparks got the win, but Roberts was clear that there is still more to clean up.
Los Angeles has not yet put together a complete 40 minutes, and Toronto’s second-half push showed that the defensive focus still has to last from start to finish. But this time, the Sparks did enough offensively to survive the lesson and still leave with the win.
That matters.
Against Las Vegas, the Sparks had a strong second quarter but could not sustain it. Against Indiana, they fought back late but ran out of time. In the first contest against Toronto, the Sparks finally turned those flashes into a result. Sunday’s game came and went with the Sparks going back to square one.
After Friday’s victory, Roberts expected Toronto to play better the second the Sparks faced the Tempo.
“Toronto gained some confidence,” Roberts said. “They’re going to come in here on Sunday and try to beat us.”
The Tempo did just that. The Sparks did not need to be perfect Friday. They needed to take the next step. Their first win showed that the defense is coming, the offense is catching up and the pieces are starting to find each other.
The Sparks now hit the road for a four-game road trip and will next play at Crypto.com Arena on June 2 against the Las Vegas Aces.
Born and raised in the heart of Compton, I’ve always had a soft spot for underdogs—those who fight with grit, heart, and determination. My passion for the LA Clippers runs deep because they mirror everything I stand for. Whether courtside or in the community, I proudly cheer for the team that reflects my story.
I am also the host of Black Love and Basketball – Compton Edition, a podcast blending the beauty of basketball and love from a feminine perspective.
Outside of basketball, I am a family law paralegal dedicated to helping families navigate challenges and stay together. Success may have a time frame for those who want you to fail, but I’ve learned to set my own clock. – Felicia Enriquez, also known as Mynt J.
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