Established in 1997, the Los Angeles Sparks are one of the founding franchises of the WNBA. Based in the basketball-rich city of Los Angeles, the Sparks hold a special place in WNBA history, with Penny Toler scoring the very first points in WNBA history—a lay-up just 59 seconds into the inaugural game. The Los Angeles Sparks were originally owned by Lakers owner Jerry Buss, who managed the team as a sister franchise to the Los Angeles Lakers from 1997 to 2006. In 2014, ownership of the Sparks shifted to a group led by Magic Johnson, Stan Kasten, Todd Boehly, and others.
LA Sparks’ 2000 WNBA season was particularly historic, as they posted a 28–4 record, the second-best win-loss record in WNBA history, behind only the 1998 Houston Comets' all-time record. Since their inception, the Sparks have been a perennial playoff team. They have consistently been home to some of the sport's greatest talents, including Hall of Famers like Lisa Leslie, who was the first player to dunk in a WNBA game, and Candace Parker, a two-time MVP who redefined the game with her unique two-way versatility.
How many times has the Los Angeles Sparks made the playoffs?
The Los Angeles Sparks have appeared in 20 playoff campaigns in WNBA history. In their 28 WNBA seasons, the Sparks have missed the postseason 8 times.
The Los Angeles Sparks' early years in the WNBA saw them miss the playoffs in their first two seasons. However, with Lisa Leslie emerging as a superstar, the Sparks secured their first playoff berth in 1999. They won their inaugural playoff series against the Sacramento Monarchs but fell to the Houston Comets in the Western Conference Finals. In the 2000 season, Sparks posted a terrific 28–4 record, but they were again defeated by the Comets, who were amid a dynasty run with their fourth consecutive WNBA championship. However, the Sparks hired former Los Angeles Lakers defensive star Michael Cooper as head coach, and Lisa Leslie went to a superstar level, which resulted in the Sparks winning their first WNBA title in 2001. In 2002, superstar Lisa Leslie led Sparks to yet another title.
Although a three-peat eluded the LA Sparks. The Detroit Shock ‘shocked’ the Sparks in the 2003 WNBA Finals. From 2004 to 2006, the Sparks remained championship contenders but fell short each year. After Leslie’s retirement, the team entered the Candace Parker era. who led the Sparks to another championship in 2016 after initial challenges.
Los Angeles Sparks Playoff Record
The Los Angeles Sparks playoff record is 47 wins and 43 losses. LA Sparks playoff history features several memorable rivalries that have defined their legacy.
In the early 2000s, the Sparks had a notable rivalry with the Sacramento Monarchs. The two teams frequently clashed in the playoffs, with the Sparks coming out on top in the 2001 and 2003 Western Conference Finals, both times winning the series 2-1. However, the Monarchs exacted their revenge in 2004, 2005, and 2006, defeating the Sparks in the playoffs each year.
A new chapter in the Sparks' playoff history began in 2015 with a fierce rivalry against the Minnesota Lynx. In 2015, the Sparks suffered a heartbreaking loss in the Conference Semifinals to the Lynx, losing the series 2-1. The following year, the Los Angeles Sparks turned the tables in a thrilling 2016 WNBA Finals series. Nneka Ogwumike hit a clutch dagger shot with 3 seconds left on the clock, as the Sparks won the 2016 WNBA finals. However, the Minnesota Lynx got their revenge in 2017, defeating the Sparks in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals to claim the title with a 3-2 series win. The rivalry continued into 2018 when the Sparks once again faced the Lynx in the first round of the playoffs, emerging victorious and advancing past their formidable rivals.
Number of WNBA championships won
The Los Angeles Sparks have won three WNBA Championships in their history. Their first title came with the emergence of superstar Lisa Leslie who led them to back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002, while Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike propelled them to another championship in 2016.
Here are the details of their championship wins:
Los Angeles Sparks Last Playoff Appearance
The Los Angeles Sparks' last playoff appearance as of September 2024 came in 2020. After a strong 15–7 season, the Sparks had the third seed for the 2020 playoffs. Veteran superstar Candace Parker won the Defensive Player of the Year award for the season and was instrumental in the team's regular season success. However, the third-seeded LA Sparks' playoff run ended in a shocking upset in the first round against the seventh-seeded Connecticut Sun.
The Sun came out hot, winning the first quarter by fourteen points and maintaining their lead throughout the game. DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas led the Sun to a surprise victory over the Sparks. Despite a strong showing from Candace Parker, who recorded 22 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists, the Sparks lost against the resilient Sun. Since the 2020 WNBA playoffs defeat against the Sun and after the departure of Candace Parker, the LA Sparks have now missed the playoffs in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, entering a phase of struggle and rebuilding.
Los Angeles Sparks Biggest WNBA Playoff Series Comeback
The biggest playoff series comeback in Los Angeles Sparks history occurred in the 2001 WNBA playoffs. Facing the Utah Starzz in the Western Conference Finals, the Sparks were down 1-0 in the series. However, they stormed back to win the next two games, clinching the series 2-1. This dramatic turnaround was pivotal as the Sparks eventually won their first WNBA Championship in 2001.
FAQs on Los Angeles Sparks Playoff history
A. The Los Angeles Sparks were last in the WNBA Finals in 2016.
A. The Los Angeles Sparks’ greatest rival is the Minnesota Lynx.
A. Yes, the Los Angeles Sparks have won WNBA championships in 2001, 2002 and 2016.
A. The Los Angeles Sparks have won 47 playoff games.
A. The WNBA Finals MVP in 2016 was Candace Parker.
A. Lisa Leslie has won two Finals MVP awards in 2001 and 2002.
