Sparks Replace: Midseason awards

Simply previous the midway mark of the 2024 WNBA season, it’s time to replicate on the place the Los Angeles Sparks are, in addition to which gamers have shined by means of a season of struggles.

The Los Angeles Sparks (5-17) have performed 22 out of a potential 40 video games this season, which places them previous the midway mark. With solely three video games left earlier than we pause for All-Star festivities and the Olympic break, it’s time to replicate on the state of the crew and provides out midseason awards.

We went by means of this course of on the quarter mark, and whereas some issues modified, many remained the identical. The Sparks had three wins after 10 video games, however since then they’ve solely mustered up two extra victories. Los Angeles had a winless eight-game highway journey, which took them out of the body of the playoff image.

This season has been all about participant improvement. Whereas Rickea Jackson has continued to indicate future All-Star potential, Cameron Brink suffered an ACL tear that ended her season. The harm bug continues to be an ongoing problem for the Sparks. Azurá Stevens lastly debuted for Los Angeles towards the Phoenix Mercury on July 7, however Lexie Brown has missed the final six video games video games resulting from Crohn’s illness. All through all of it, Dearica Hamby has maintained kind and has been the crew’s finest participant. The league has seen, and she or he has been named a WNBA All-Star for the third time in her profession.

Now that we’ve gone over the general image in Los Angeles, it’s time to present out crew awards on the midway mark:

MVP: Dearica Hamby

An All-Star who leads the crew demonstrably in each factors and rebounds, Hamby is way and away the very best participant on the Sparks and the crew’s MVP.

She’s averaging a double-double a sport with 19.1 factors and 10.4 rebounds in every contest. Some younger gamers are shining within the alternatives they’re being given, however nobody is at Hamby’s stage, and she is going to proceed to be the engine that retains this crew operating in 2024.

DPOY: Aari McDonald

Naming the Sparks’ finest defender was simple 1 / 4 of the best way by means of the season, with Brink profitable the crew’s Defensive Participant of the 12 months award. However with the rookie out, another person has to take the spot.

As a crew, the Sparks give good defensive effort, however, individually, nobody has impressed me since Brink has been sidelined. So, I’m going with Aari McDonald. She has to tackle a few of the hardest guards evening in and evening out and holds her personal defensively.

I’d prefer to see enchancment from gamers like Rickea Jackson, who has the dimensions and athleticism to turn into an excellent defender. Till then, McDonald is the very best particular person defender for the Sparks.

Sixth POY: Li Yueru

With an ever-changing lineup, understanding who’s a bench participant and never a starter is an ever-evolving goal. On the subject of the bench mob, Yueru has shortly turn into a standout. Her minutes have solely elevated because the season has progressed and she or he’s now averaging 4.7 factors and three.4 rebounds in her 12.7 minuets of play.

Yueru gives measurement and energy the crew desperately wants and continues to get an increasing number of comfy taking part in within the WNBA. Her finest sport is her 18-point efficiency towards the Seattle Storm, the place she shot 6-for-9 from the sector and went an ideal 6-for-6 from the free throw line. So long as she continues to contribute positively off the bench, she’s a lock to proceed getting the vast majority of the minuets as a backup large.

MIP: Dearica Hamby

For me, it’s between Aari McDonald and Hamby for Most Improved, however I’m going to present the sting to Hamby. She’s improved extra statistically in factors and rebounds, going from top-of-the-line gamers off the bench to the very best participant—interval. That sort of progress is unrealistic, however Hamby continues to make the inconceivable seem manageable.

Peak Performers

This class highlights the leaders in key statistical classes. No opinion, simply stats.

• Scoring: Dearica Hamby, 19.1 factors per sport.
• Rebounding: Dearcia Hamby, 10.4 rebounds per sport.
• Assists: Aari McDonald, 4.0 assists per sport.

After we test in a the three-quarter mark, we’ll know if playoffs are nonetheless a chance or if it simply will likely be about jockeying for lottery place. For now, there may be nonetheless hope that, after a month off, the crew can come again refreshed and go on a run in the course of the second half of the season.