Sparks Update: Midseason awards

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Just past the halfway mark of the 2024 WNBA season, it’s time to reflect on where the Los Angeles Sparks are, as well as which players have shined through a season of struggles.

The Los Angeles Sparks (5-17) have played 22 out of a possible 40 games this season, which puts them past the halfway mark. With only three games left before we pause for All-Star festivities and the Olympic break, it’s time to reflect on the state of the team and give out midseason awards.

We went through this process at the quarter mark, and while some things changed, many remained the same. The Sparks had three wins after 10 games, but since then they’ve only mustered up two more victories. Los Angeles had a winless eight-game road trip, which took them out of the frame of the playoff picture.

This season has been all about player development. While Rickea Jackson has continued to show future All-Star potential, Cameron Brink suffered an ACL tear that ended her season. The injury bug continues to be an ongoing issue for the Sparks. Azurá Stevens finally debuted for Los Angeles against the Phoenix Mercury on July 7, but Lexie Brown has missed the last six games games due to Crohn’s disease. Throughout it all, Dearica Hamby has maintained form and has been the team’s best player. The league has noticed, and she has been named a WNBA All-Star for the third time in her career.

Now that we’ve gone over the overall picture in Los Angeles, it’s time to give out team awards at the halfway mark:

MVP: Dearica Hamby

An All-Star who leads the team demonstrably in both points and rebounds, Hamby is far and away the best player on the Sparks and the team’s MVP.

She’s averaging a double-double a game with 19.1 points and 10.4 rebounds in each contest. Some young players are shining in the opportunities they’re being given, but no one is at Hamby’s level, and she will continue to be the engine that keeps this team running in 2024.

DPOY: Aari McDonald

Naming the Sparks’ best defender was easy a quarter of the way through the season, with Brink winning the team’s Defensive Player of the Year award. But with the rookie out, someone else has to take the spot.

As a team, the Sparks give good defensive effort, but, individually, no one has impressed me since Brink has been sidelined. So, I’m going with Aari McDonald. She has to take on some of the toughest guards night in and night out and holds her own defensively.

I’d like to see improvement from players like Rickea Jackson, who has the size and athleticism to become a good defender. Until then, McDonald is the best individual defender for the Sparks.

Sixth POY: Li Yueru

With an ever-changing lineup, understanding who is a bench player and not a starter is an ever-evolving target. When it comes to the bench mob, Yueru has quickly become a standout. Her minutes have only increased as the season has progressed and she’s now averaging 4.7 points and 3.4 rebounds in her 12.7 minuets of play.

Yueru provides size and strength the team desperately needs and continues to get more and more comfortable playing in the WNBA. Her best game is her 18-point performance against the Seattle Storm, where she shot 6-for-9 from the field and went a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line. As long as she continues to contribute positively off the bench, she’s a lock to continue getting the majority of the minuets as a backup big.

MIP: Dearica Hamby

For me, it’s between Aari McDonald and Hamby for Most Improved, but I’m going to give the edge to Hamby. She’s improved more statistically in points and rebounds, going from one of the best players off the bench to the best player—period. That kind of growth is unrealistic, but Hamby continues to make the impossible appear manageable.

Peak Performers

This category highlights the leaders in key statistical categories. No opinion, just stats.

Scoring: Dearica Hamby, 19.1 points per game.

Rebounding: Dearcia Hamby, 10.4 rebounds per game.

Assists: Aari McDonald, 4.0 assists per game.

When we check in a the three-quarter mark, we’ll know if playoffs are still a possibility or if it just will be about jockeying for lottery position. For now, there is still hope that, after a month off, the team can come back refreshed and go on a run during the second half of the season.

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