Training Camp Tips Off for the 2025 WNBA Season: Sparks Set the Tone in L.A.

The Sparks’ 2025 training camp is underway, running through May 4, 2025, as the team gears up for the WNBA regular season, tipping off May 16, 2025. Inside their bright, state-of-the-art facility, the Los Angeles Sparks have opened camp with a mix of intensity, potential, and purpose. From the moment I stepped into their state-of-the-art facility — surrounded by murals of legends like Kobe, Lisa Leslie, and LeBron — it was clear: this isn’t just about basketball, it’s about building legacy.

ON Day 1, the energy felt cautious — players still learning each other, rookies finding their rhythm, coaches pushing every detail. The facility? Sick. State-of-the-art. Basketball legends look down from the walls — a visual reminder of greatness past and the standard the Sparks are chasing. The vibe was bright, clean, and full of potential.

Still, I found myself thinking I wish they had numbers on their jerseys. As a reporter getting familiar with a fresh roster, I was trying to match faces to names while the team moved through drills. The court was split into about three groups — coaches calling out plays, and players moving in sync. It felt more like college practice than pro league intensity at first. No shade. Just honest reflection. The NBA and WNBA still show up differently.

Still, the coaching staff? Laser focused. Every pass, every shot, every movement mattered. There was a hunger — not to impress, but to build. And that kind of quiet grind hits differently.

I didn’t feel the hype immediately. But as I looked closer, I saw it: footwork, repetition, communication. The kind of work that doesn’t need applause to matter.

They were working on three-point shots — lots of them. Not many mid-range looks, just threes and free throws. Maybe that’s what this season will look like: stretch the floor, open up the paint, let the shooters shoot.

By the end of practice, I saw tall bodies setting solid screens, rookies trying to find spacing, veterans pointing them in the right direction. It was a quiet kind of poetry. Not flashy. But honest.

This is the foundation. And foundations take time.

Top-tier from floor to ceiling, the gym celebrates icons of the game and sets a tone of legacy and ambition for every player who steps inside.

There was a three-group rotation happening on the court, and the coaches? Passionate. You can tell they care. They’re pushing these players hard, with real intention. Yet the difference between the WNBA and NBA is still visible. Some of these women still look like college players finding their pro rhythm. No shade — just facts.

I kept asking myself: why don’t I feel the hype yet? Maybe it’s because I’m not just looking for highlights — I’m looking for something real to connect with. But then I reminded myself: passion isn’t about paychecks or fanfare. It’s about showing up. Grinding. Shooting those extra 3s even when the cameras stop.

That’s what I saw. Not perimeter magic — but the groundwork for it.

This year’s Sparks team seems ready to lean into the long game. I saw rookies setting screens, players working off the ball, and coaches correcting every detail. It’s not glamorous yet — but it’s real basketball. And real basketball always finds its voice. But the passion? That was there. In the 3-point drills. In the screens being set. In the rookies leaning on vets, and vets leading with care.

This wasn’t about who looked the part. This was about who showed up to be the part.

Day 2 brought clarity.

The biggest name in the building? That would be three-time WNBA All-Star Kelsey Plum, who joined the Sparks this offseason via a three-team trade involving the Las Vegas Aces and Seattle Storm. A two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time WNBA champion, Plum brings not just elite skill but a winning mentality to Los Angeles.

She’s joined by a strong returning core that includes three-time All-Star Dearica Hamby, WNBA Champion Azurá Stevens, All-Star Odyssey Sims, and All-Rookie standout Rickea Jackson. Also returning are Aari McDonald, Rae Burrell, and Cameron Brink — the 2024 second-overall pick currently rehabbing an injury.

But it was the rookies who made the strongest impression on Day 2. I had the chance to speak with several of them, and each brought her own energy, mindset, and hunger to prove she belongs.

Rickea Jackson: Wisdom with Swagger

Back for her second season, Rickea Jackson isn’t just here to ball — she’s here to guide.

“Be a sponge. Stay confident, keep learning, and soak up everything that can help you,” Jackson said when asked what advice she’d give to the new rookies.

Off the court, her vibe is equal parts cool and competitive.

“I’ve got Drake on repeat most days, but before a game? Gotta get that Latto energy going.”

Sarah Ashlee Barker: Toughness Meets Humility

Alabama’s Sarah Ashlee Barker, the No. 9 pick, is quickly adjusting to her new role.

“It’s been a smooth transition. I’m just watching the vets — how they lead, how they move — and soaking it all in.”

She’s especially inspired by veteran Kelsey Plum:

“People say I play like her — watching her pace, her balance, her leadership — it’s wild. I want to learn everything I can.”

Sania Feagin: The Dominant Big in the Making

South Carolina’s Sania Feagin, a two-time NCAA champ, brings a grounded presence to the team:

“I just want to be that dominant big, play my role, and do the right thing,” she shared.

She’s been adjusting to the West Coast culture shift too:

“It’s different between California and South Carolina — just the lingo and learning the plays — but I’m good. I’m adjusting.”

Beyond the Box Score: A Raw Reflection

Passion doesn’t always scream. Sometimes, it shows up quietly — in a defensive slide, a second chance rebound, or a rookie leaning into a vet’s advice.

The WNBA doesn’t need to mimic the NBA. It has its own voice. Its own grind. Its own greatness.

These first two days weren’t about hype. They were about heart. And for the Sparks, that’s more than enough to build on.