After a lengthy, busy offseason, the Sparks officially kick off their 2025 season on Friday.
A lot has changed since the last time the Sparks played a regular season game. Over the offseason, they parted ways with Curt Miller and hired Lynne Roberts to coach the team. Then they traded their 2025 No. 2 pick in the WNBA draft to acquire superstar guard Kelsey Plum.
With a new coach, an All-Star guard and Dearcia Hamby coming off a career year, hopes are high among fans that this season will play out much better than last.
Before the games start, let’s examine the roster for this new year.
In the WNBA, rosters can have a maximum of 12 players, but each team must have at least 11. The Sparks used all 12 spots and will enter the season with a full roster.
Kelsey Plum, guard
Plum has accomplished everything that can be done in basketball. She won back-to-back titles with the Las Vegas Aces, won the Olympic Gold Medal in 3x3 basketball in the 2020 Olympics and made the All-WNBA Team in 2022.
She spent her first seven years in San Antonio/Vegas before being traded to L.A. and will now be one of the leaders on this team. Her career averages of 14.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists will likely be crushed this season as a Spark.
Dearica Hamby, forward
Plum’s arrival is exciting, but don’t forget about Hamby. She was far and away the best player for the Sparks, a bedrock of consistent greatness in Los Angeles last season, playing and starting in all 40 games.
Hamby averaged 17.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, was an All-Star and was second in the WNBA for the Most Improved Player Award. With Plum feeding her the ball and working with her in pick and roll actions, Hamby’s best years might still be in front of her.
Rickea Jackson, forward
Jackson had a strong rookie season, averaging 13.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. She made the All-Rookie Team and, after a strong showing with Unrivaled, will aim to have another stellar season for the Sparks.
Cameron Brink, forward
Brink was well on her way to being one of the best rookies in the WNBA last season before an ACL tear ended her season after 15 games. Defensively, she was averaging 2.3 blocks a game, which was the second-highest number of rejections in the league behind just A’ja Wilson, who averaged 2.6 per game.
While Brink is not ready to play just yet, reports indicate she’ll return in June. Once she does, she’ll give the Sparks a great player to pair with Hamby in the frontcourt.
Rae Burrell, guard-forward
Burrell is still establishing her place in the WNBA. Last year, she averaged 5.9 points and 1.8 rebounds, but she showed flashes of her potential late in the season, scoring 18 points in a win against the eventual WNBA champions, the New York Liberty.
It’ll be interesting to see her role in Roberts’ system and whether it leads to a career year.
Azurá Stevens, forward-center
This will be Stevens’ eighth season in the WNBA and her third as a Spark. She averaged 9.6 points and shot 35% from 3-point range last year and will likely remain a key player in the rotation.
Odyssey Sims, guard
Sims joined the Sparks near the end of the year, playing in 15 games. She averaged 9.8 points and provided some offensive firepower in the backcourt.
Julie Allemand, guard
Allemand signed in 2024, but didn’t play last season due to an ankle injury.
The Belgian last played in the WNBA in 2022 with the Chicago Sky, where she averaged 3.0 points and 3.6 assists per game.
Mercedes Russell, center
Russell is the Sparks' backup big who can play a shift or two. She is an eight-year veteran in the WNBA who spent most of her career in Seattle before signing with Los Angeles this offseason.
Sarah Ashlee Barker, guard
The Sparks’ first round selection is ready to begin her rookie campaign. Barker averaged 18.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game during her senior year in Alabama.
Sania Feagin, forward
It’s rare for late round draft picks to make it in the WNBA, but Feagin is one of them. She spent her entire collegiate career as a South Carolina Gamecock, learning from legendary head coach Dawn Staley.
Feagin averaged 8.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists during her final year at SC and won the national title in 2022 and 2024.
Emma Cannon, forward
Cannon is a veteran forward who can provide leadership on this young team. She played for the Aces last year, but had very limited minutes.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at@ECreates88or on Bluesky at@ecreates88.bsky.social.