The LA Sparks started the campaign slow, going 2-7, and never recovered. Now with the 2024 WNBA regular season getting closer to the finish line and the playoffs taking center stage simultaneously, the franchise has slid out of contention. This 4th consecutive postseason absence would mark the driest spell in the Sparks’ history. However, this isn’t the end of the world for the Sparks.

The off-season has a few things to offer the struggling franchise. Here are some.

Reason No.1

It’s Cameron Brink. One of the most popular athletes of the lot, the rookie’s season was cut short because of an ACL injury during a 79-70 loss to the Connecticut Sun in mid-June. It was in the first quarter. When she drove toward the basket, her knee bent awkwardly and her ankle was stepped on, leaving her unable to get back on her feet. The medical staff would then help the rookie off the court.

Being a player who had never suffered any major injuries in her basketball career, Brink gave out a heartfelt message on social media. “You never think it will happen to you,” she had started. Adding more words to her message of self-assurance, Brink, in a way, calmed down her worried fans.

An ACL injury usually takes 9-12 months to recover, which in Brink’s case will give her ample time to get back in gear for the next season. Before the injury, she was averaging 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 2.3 blocks per game. Moreover, she was emerging to be a remarkable shotblocker for the team. So, it will be a powerful comeback the Sparks might have next year.

Reason No. 2

With a 7-27 record, the Sparks are aiming for the top spot in the 2025 lottery. They have 24 wins over the past two seasons, placing them just above the Washington Mystics with a five-game difference. Thus, with the odds in their favor, the Sparks might look to use their no.1 pick to draft the UConn icon, Paige Bueckers — a generational talent. Since her high school days, Bueckers has been a top catch coming from under Geno Auriemma’s tutelage.

In 2021, Bueckers won the Associated Press National Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors after she averaged 20 points and 5.8 assists of 52.4% shooting. However, a couple of season-ending injuries limited her to only 17 games in 2021.

Making a comeback this past season, Bueckers re-established herself as one of the elites who put out an average of 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game while she shot 53% shots from the field.

As a result, the Sparks can highly benefit from Bueckers added to the core including Cameron Brink, Rickea Jackson, and Dearica Hamby.

Reason No. 3

Sometimes, having faced adversaries turns out to be an upside in the long run. Similar is the case with the Sparks rookie Rickea Jackson, who is emerging on the forefront after Brink’s season-ending injury. Stunning the league with an unprecedented feat of 25 points, 6 3-pointers, and 3 blocks, Jackson became the first rookie in the history of the WNBA to reach such figures in a single game.

Averaging 12.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists already, Jackson is setting her path to glory in the future.

Since the season resumed after the All-Star break, Jackson has been putting out double-digit scores and has been the most efficient with her 3-pointers. “She now has the confidence, and she knows she has the green light to not hesitate. She’s in a groove right now shooting the three… She’s going to be a special one, and we’re all seeing it,” head coach, Curt Miller had iterated.

With the off-season only offering more time for growth, including the Unrivaled league she has signed up for, having her on the roster would be another story in the making for the Sparks next season.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger