2015 Los Angeles Sparks season

2015 Los Angeles Sparks season
CoachBrian Agler
ArenaStaples Center
Attendance7,464 per game
Results
Record14–20 (.412)
Place4th (Western)
Playoff finishLost in Conference Semifinals
Team Leaders
PointsCandace Parker – 19.4 ppg
ReboundsCandace Parker – 10.1 rpg
AssistsCandace Parker – 6.3 apg
Media
TelevisionTime Warner Cable SportsNet
ESPN2, NBATV

The 2015 Los Angeles Sparks season was the franchise's 19th season in the Women's National Basketball Association, and the first full season under head coach Brian Agler. The season began on June 6, on the road against the Seattle Storm.[1] The Sparks lost that game, and went on to lose all seven of their games in June. Their closest losses were on June 23 and June 26 against the Washington Mystics and Connecticut Sun. Both losses were by four points, but the Sun game went into overtime where the Sparks lost 80–76. The Sparks' first win of the season came on June 2 against the San Antonio Stars. The followed the win with a defeat of Tulsa. A five game losing streak followed the two wins. The streak started with an overtime loss against Phoenix. The Sparks ended the streak with a five-point win over Phoenix. The Sparks lost two games and won the final game of July to finish the month 4–7. The Sparks experienced a resurgence in August, winning their first three games of the month, which included an 83–61 victory over Minnesota. They would then lose to Minnesota and Seattle before winning four of their next five games. Their loss during this stretch was against Indiana. They achieved three of their five road wins during the streak. They lost to Tulsa and defeated San Antonio to end the month 8–4. They began September with home defeats of Washington and Tulsa and finished with road losses against Atlanta and Phoenix. The Sparks finished 2–2 in September to finish with a final record of 14–20.

Their 14–20 record earned them the fourth seed in the Western Conference. Therefore, they faced-off against first-seed Minnesota in the first round of the 2015 WNBA playoffs. During the regular season, the teams met four times, with Minnesota winning three match-ups. The first game was in Minnesota and the Sparks lost a close game 67–65. The series returned to Los Angeles, where the Sparks won 81–71 to force a third game. In the final game of the series, back in Minnesota, the Sparks were defeated 91–80 to end their season. Their fourteen total wins were their lowest since 2010, and this was their fourth straight playoff appearance.

Transactions

WNBA draft

See also: 2015 WNBA draft
Round Pick Player Nationality School/Team/Country
1 7 Crystal Bradford  United States Central Michigan
2 14 (through Sea.) Cierra Burdick Tennessee
3 31 Andrea Hoover Dayton

Trades/Roster Changes

Date Transaction
February 11 Signed Erin Phillips[2]
February 26 Signed Alana Beard[3]
March 18 Signed Jantel Lavender[4]
March 23 Signed Temeka Johnson[5]

Roster

Source:[6][7]

2015 Los Angeles Sparks roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
F13SwedenAbdi, Farhiya6' 2" (1.88m)180 lb (82kg)1992-05-31Sweden2
G/F0United StatesBeard, Alana5' 11" (1.8m)160 lb (73kg)1982-05-14Duke9
G15United StatesBradford, Crystal6' 0" (1.83m)170 lb (77kg)1993-11-01Central MichiganR
G23SerbiaDabović, Ana6' 0" (1.83m)157 lb (71kg)1989-08-18SerbiaR
C5United StatesHamson, Jennifer6' 7" (2.01m)210 lb (95kg)1992-01-23BYUR
G2United StatesJohnson, Temeka5' 3" (1.6m)142 lb (64kg)1982-09-06LSU10
C42United StatesLavender, Jantel6' 4" (1.93m)185 lb (84kg)1988-11-12Ohio State4
F30United StatesOgwumike, Nneka6' 2" (1.88m)188 lb (85kg)1990-07-02Stanford3
F/C3United StatesParker, Candace6' 4" (1.93m)175 lb (79kg)1986-04-19Tennessee7
G31AustraliaPhillips, Erin5' 8" (1.73m)165 lb (75kg)1985-05-19Australia7
C22United StatesSnow, Michelle6' 5" (1.96m)145 lb (66kg)1980-03-20Tennessee12
G20United StatesToliver, Kristi5' 7" (1.7m)130 lb (59kg)1987-01-27Maryland6
Head coach
United States Brian Agler (Wittenberg)
Assistant coaches
United States Curt Miller (Baldwin Wallace)
United States Amber Stocks (Cincinnati)
Athletic trainer
United States Courtney Watson (California)
Strength and conditioning coach
United States Kelly Dormandy (Springfield)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Game Log

Preseason

2015 pre-season game log
May: 2–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 2–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 May 27 vs. Chicago W 76–67 Nneka Ogwumike (15) Lavender, Ogwumike (10) Erin Phillips (8) Mohegan Sun Arena
3,947 		1–0
2 May 28 @ Connecticut W 64–57 Nneka Ogwumike (14) Jantel Lavender (10) Erin Phillips (7) Mohegan Sun Arena
4,006 		2–0
2015 pre-season schedule

Regular season

2015 game log
Total: 14–20 (Home: 9–8; Road: 5–12)
June: 0–7 (Home: 0–3; Road: 0–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 June 6 @ Seattle L 61–86 Alana Beard (20) Jantel Lavender (12) Erin Phillips (5) KeyArena
9,686 		0–1
2 June 14 Seattle L 54–60 Jantel Lavender (12) Jantel Lavender (9) Erin Phillips (5) Staples Center
12,148 		0–2
3 June 16 Minnesota L 52–67 Jantel Lavender (12) Jantel Lavender (13) Temeka Johnson (7) Staples Center
6,968 		0–3
4 June 21 Connecticut L 68–76 Jantel Lavender (17) Jantel Lavender (10) Temeka Johnson (10) Staples Center
6,875 		0–4
5 June 23 @ Washington L 80–84 Jantel Lavender (18) Jantel Lavender (9) Temeka Johnson (10) Capital One Arena
7,400 		0–5
6 June 26 @ Connecticut L 76–80 (OT) Jantel Lavender (22) Jantel Lavender (12) Temeka Johnson (4) Mohegan Sun Arena
5,542 		0–6
7 June 28 @ New York L 70–79 Kristi Toliver (30) Nneka Ogwumike (16) Temeka Johnson (6) Madison Square Garden
8,926 		0–7
July : 4–7 (Home: 3–3; Road: 1–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
8 June 2 San Antonio W 86–81 Nneka Ogwumike (27) Jantel Lavender (10) Temeka Johnson (5) Staples Center
6,287 		1–7
9 June 3 Tulsa W 98–95 Kristi Toliver (43) Nneka Ogwumike (10) Kristi Toliver (9) Staples Center
6,358 		2–7
10 June 5 Phoenix L 91–94 (OT) Nneka Ogwumike (26) Nneka Ogwumike (19) Kristi Toliver (8) Staples Center
9,069 		2–8
11 June 8 @ San Antonio L 63–70 Jantel Lavender (19) Nneka Ogwumike (13) Kristi Toliver (7) Freeman Coliseum
3,100 		2–9
12 June 11 @ Tulsa L 67–82 Nneka Ogwumike (22) Nneka Ogwumike (13) Kristi Toliver (6) BOK Center
6,144 		2–10
13 June 15 @ Seattle L 61–68 Nneka Ogwumike (12) Nneka Ogwumike (7) Temeka Johnson (6) KeyArena
9,686 		2–11
14 June 16 Atlanta L 72–76 Jantel Lavender (20) Jantel Lavender (11) Kristi Toliver (8) Staples Center
14,510 		2–12
15 June 21 Phoenix W 70–65 Jantel Lavender (19) Jantel Lavender (11) Dabović, Johnson (4) Staples Center
7,146 		3–12
16 June 22 New York L 53–59 Kristi Toliver (16) Nneka Ogwumike (8) Erin Phillips (4) Staples Center
7,354 		3–13
17 June 29 @ Minnesota L 76–82 Jantel Lavender (15) Jantel Lavender (10) Candace Parker (9) Target Center
8,913 		3–14
18 June 31 @ Chicago W 88–77 Candace Parker (31) Candace Parker (9) Johnson, Parker (4) Allstate Arena
7,014 		4–14
August : 8–4 (Home: 4–2; Road: 4–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
19 August 2 @ San Antonio W 80–78 Jantel Lavender (20) Candace Parker (11) Alana Beard (7) Freeman Coliseum
5,416 		5–14
20 August 4 Minnesota W 83–61 Candace Parker (18) Lavender, Parker (13) Alana Beard (7) Staples Center
8,746 		6–14
21 August 6 Tulsa W 84–57 Nneka Ogwumike (26) Candace Parker (12) Candace Parker (6) Staples Center
8,056 		7–14
22 August 9 @ Minnesota L 64–72 Nneka Ogwumike (18) Lavender, Parker (8) Parker, Toliver (6) Target Center
9,021 		7–15
23 August 11 Seattle L 77–85 Jantel Lavender(22) Candace Parker (10) Candace Parker (9) Staples Center
8,068 		7–16
24 August 16 Chicago W 76–64 Candace Parker (21) Lavender, Parker (8) Candace Parker (10) Staples Center
9,053 		8–16
25 August 18 Indiana L 68–79 Candace Parker (25) Candace Parker (10) Candace Parker (6) Staples Center
7,046 		8–17
26 August 21 @ Phoenix W 78–68 Candace Parker (26) Jantel Lavender (11) Lavender, Parker, Toliver (3) US Airways Center
11,237 		9–17
27 August 23 @ San Antonio W 90–59 Jantel Lavender (22) Candace Parker (12) Candace Parker (9) Freeman Coliseum
3,972 		10–17
28 August 26 @ Indiana W 81–79 Ana Dabović (18) Candace Parker (10) Candace Parker (9) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
6,822 		11–17
29 August 28 @ Tulsa L 66–76 Candace Parker (24) Candace Parker (11) Johnson, Parker, Toliver (4) BOK Center
4,776 		11–18
30 August 30 San Antonio W 60–52 Jantel Lavender (24) Candace Parker (11) Ana Dabović (6) Staples Center
19,076 		12–18
September : 2–2 (Home: 2–0; Road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
31 September 3 Washington W 93–91 Candace Parker (26) Candace Parker (11) Candace Parker (6) Staples Center
7,223 		13–18
32 September 6 Tulsa W 92–73 Candace Parker (33) Lavender, Ogwumike (9) Kristi Toliver (6) Staples Center
10,114 		14–18
33 September 9 @ Atlanta L 60–90 Jantel Lavender (14) Abdi, Lavender (6) Ana Dabović (8) Philips Arena
3,856 		14–19
34 September 11 @ Phoenix L 65–70 Jennifer Hamson (12) Jennfier Hamson (7) Ana Dabović (7) US Airways Center
12,296 		14–20
2015 season schedule

Playoffs

2015 playoff game log
Conference Semifinals vs.Minnesota Lynx
Lost Series: 1–2
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 September 18 @ Minnesota L 65–67 Candace Parker (16) Candace Parker (9) Candace Parker (4) Target Center
8,333 		0–1
2 September 20 Minnesota W 81–71 Candace Parker (25) Candace Parker (10) Ana Dabović (7) Walter Pyramid
3,112 		1–1
3 September 22 @ Minnesota L 80–91 Candace Parker (28) Candace Parker (13) Ogwumike, Parker (4) Target Center
9,014 		1–2
2015 playoff schedule

Standings

Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
z - Minnesota Lynx 22 12 .647 – 13–4 9–8 16–6
x - Phoenix Mercury 20 14 .588 2 13–4 7–10 15–7
x - Tulsa Shock 18 16 .529 4 12–5 6–11 11–11
x - 14 20 .412 8 9–8 5–12 10–12
e - Seattle Storm 10 24 .294 12 8–9 2–15 8–14
e - San Antonio Stars 8 26 .235 14 7–10 1–16 6–16

Playoffs

See also: 2015 WNBA Playoffs
Conference semifinals
Best-of-3 		Conference finals
Best-of-3 		WNBA Finals
Best-of-5
         
E1 New York 2
E4 Washington 1
E1 New York 1
Eastern Conference
E3 Indiana 2
E2 Chicago 1
E3 Indiana 2
E3 Indiana 2
W1 Minnesota 3
W1 Minnesota 2
W4 1
W1 Minnesota 2
Western Conference
W2 Phoenix 0
W2 Phoenix 2
W3 Tulsa 0
  • Bold – Series winner
  • Italics – Team with home-court advantage

Statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage  TO  Turnovers per game
 PF  Fouls per game Team leader League leader

Source:[6]

Regular season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Candace Parker 16 16 34.4 48.9% 27.9% 81.5% 10.1 6.3 1.9 1.8 19.4
Jantel Lavender 34 34 33.8 52.5% 33.3% 88.2% 8.3 1.8 0.4 1.2 14.5
Nneka Ogwumike 24 23 32.7 52.5% 8.3% 86.6% 7.0 2.1 1.0 0.5 15.8
Kristi Toliver 28 28 30.9 44.9% 38.4% 90.3% 2.3 3.7 0.8 0.0 12.4
Erin Phillips 12 12 30.9 28.6% 26.7% 85.0% 3.0 3.1 0.9 0.2 6.8
Alana Beard 15 11 24.3 49.0% 18.2% 90.0% 2.9 2.5 1.1 0.5 7.3
Ana Dabović 24 8 22.1 44.6% 33.3% 80.8% 1.6 1.9 0.9 0.0 8.8
Jennifer Lacy 8 4 22.0 40.9% 29.6% — 2.9 0.6 0.3 0.1 5.5
Temeka Johnson 34 11 21.2 32.3% 24.6% 84.1% 2.4 3.6 0.7 — 5.1
Marianna Tolo 28 14 19.0 46.2% 0.0% 80.6% 3.0 1.0 0.3 1.0 4.9
Andrea Hoover 12 1 14.3 31.9% 28.6% 100.0% 1.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 3.8
Farhiya Abdi 18 5 13.2 35.4% 27.3% 57.1% 1.7 0.5 0.4 0.1 3.8
Michelle Snow 2 0 13.0 42.9% — 0.0% 1.5 — — 0.5 3.0
Crystal Bradford 15 1 9.5 27.8% 23.1% 71.4% 1.3 0.5 0.4 0.1 2.7
Jasmine Lister 7 0 9.3 53.3% 80.0% — 1.3 0.6 0.3 — 2.9
Jennifer Hamson 25 2 6.5 55.2% — 27.6% 1.5 0.2 0.2 0.5 1.6
Courtney Clements 25 1 5.0 0.0% 0.0% — 1.0 — — — —

Playoffs

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Candace Parker 3 3 38.3 41.8% 38.9% 84.2% 10.7 4.7 2.3 1.3 23.0
Alana Beard 3 3 35.0 33.3% 0.0% 75.0% 4.3 1.7 1.7 0.7 6.3
Jantel Lavender 3 3 34.3 57.7% 100.0% 60.0% 6.7 1.0 0.7 0.3 11.3
Nneka Ogwumike 3 3 30.7 60.0% — 83.3% 4.3 2.0 1.0 0.3 11.7
Kristi Toliver 3 3 29.7 36.7% 38.5% 75.0% 1.7 3.0 1.0 — 10.0
Ana Dabović 3 0 19.7 50.0% 71.4% 71.4% 1.7 3.7 0.3 — 11.7
Temeka Johnson 3 0 12.3 25.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2.0 1.7 0.7 — 1.3

Awards and honors

Recipient Award Date awarded Ref.
Jantel Lavender All-Star Injury Replacement July 5 [8]
Nneka Ogwumike Western Conference Player of the Week July 5 [9]
WNBA All-Defensive First Team September 27 [10]
Candace Parker Western Conference Player of the Week August 24 [11]
September 8 [12]
Western Conference Player of the Month – August September 3 [13]
All-WNBA Second Team October 8 [14]
Ana Dabović WNBA All-Rookie Team September 24 [15]

References

  1. ^ "2015 Los Angeles Sparks Schedule". WNBA. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  2. ^ "Sparks Sign Two–Time WNBA Champion Erin Phillips". Los Angeles Sparks. February 11, 2015. Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  3. ^ "Veteran Alana Beard re-signs with Los Angeles Sparks". USA Today.
  4. ^ "LA Sparks re-sign center Jantel Lavender". USA Today.
  5. ^ Lee, Albert (March 23, 2015). "Temeka Johnson signs with the Los Angeles Sparks". swishappeal.com. SB Nation. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  6. ^ a b "2015 Los Angeles Sparks Stats". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  7. ^ "Los Angeles Sparks Roster 2015". basketball.usbasket.com. USBasket. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  8. ^ "Tulsa's Williams, San Antonio's McBride, And Los Angeles' Lavender Named Injury Replacements For Boost Mobile WNBA All-Star 2015". WNBA. July 23, 2015. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  9. ^ "SPARKS FORWARD NNEKA OGWUMIKE NAMED WNBA PLAYER OF THE WEEK". sparks.wnba.com. WNBA. July 6, 2015. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  10. ^ "Mercury's Brittney Griner headlines 2015 WNBA All-Defensive Team". NBA PR. September 27, 2015. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  11. ^ "Delle Donne, Parker Earn Player Of The Week Awards". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  12. ^ "Sky's Courtney Vandersloot, Sparks' Candace Parker named WNBA Players of the Week". pr.nba.com. NBA. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  13. ^ "Liberty's Prince, Sparks' Parker Named WNBA Players Of The Month Presented By Samsung". WNBA. September 3, 2015. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  14. ^ "WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne Headlines 2015 All-WNBA First Team As Unanimous Pick". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  15. ^ "Storm's Jewell Loyd Headlines 2015 WNBA All-Rookie Team". storm.wnba.com. WNBA. September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
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