This part of the season is pure bliss. <\/p>\n
The Sparks are currently on a five-game winning streak, which is the longest in the WNBA<\/a>. They are only one game behind a playoff position and Cameron Brink, last year\u2019s No. 2 overall pick, returns to the court<\/a> for Tuesday\u2019s home game against the Aces. <\/p>\n With Brink back, the Sparks will be fully healthy for the first time this season and ready to play three of their next four games at home. <\/p>\n Before we continue with what\u2019s left of July, let\u2019s review how Sparks players have been doing post-All-Star Break.<\/p>\n So, let\u2019s grade this week\u2019s performances. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A \u201cB\u201d grade represents the average performance for that player. <\/p>\n Kelsey Plum<\/strong><\/p>\n 31.7 minutes, 20.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 7 assists, 1.3 steals, 19-38 FG, 10-19 3PT, 13-14 FT, +10<\/p>\n Fresh off her All-Star appearance<\/a>, Plum has maintained her high level of production. She was crucial to Los Angeles crushing Connecticut, scoring 30 points in a 101-86 blowout win<\/a>. <\/p>\n With Plum providing a baseline of excellence and her supporting cast stepping up, the Sparks have been able to have their best stretch of the year. <\/p>\n Grade: A-<\/strong><\/p>\n Dearica Hamby<\/strong><\/p>\n 32.6 minutes, 20.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.3 blocks, 26-34 FG, 1-4 3PT, 8-21 FT, +35<\/p>\n Hamby had a great week, averaging a double-double during these first three games after the All-Star Break. As a result of that impressive work, she was named the Western Conference Player of the Week.<\/p>\n The biggest blemish for Hamby this week has been her free throw shooting. Hamby shot 8-21 from the charity stripe. Now, she\u2019s not known as a good shooter from the line, averaging 57% on the season, but no matter how you contextualize it, missing nearly two-thirds of your free throw attempts is bad. <\/p>\n Hamby needs to clean that up a bit, or else teams will only get even more aggressive with her in the paint and force her to earn her points on the line. Considering how well she\u2019s played, this is a relatively minor thing to be concerned about.<\/p>\n Azur\u00e1 Stevens<\/strong><\/p>\n 28.6 minutes, 16.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 19-40 FG, 6-17 3PT, 5-7 FT, +25<\/p>\n Stevens continues her career year with an impressive start to the second half of 2025. <\/p>\n She isn\u2019t just evolving into a three-level scorer, she\u2019s doing the dirty work by attacking the glass. During these three games, she grabbed 25 rebounds, the second most on the team behind only Hamby. <\/p>\n If she continues to play at this level, Stevens will be a WNBA Most Improved Player of the Year candidate and perhaps the favorite to win the award. <\/p>\n Grade: A<\/strong><\/p>\n 29.8 minutes, 16.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.3 blocks, 17-41 FG, 8-17 3PT, 8-9 FT, +8<\/p>\n Jackson had far and away the best highlight of the week and a contender for Sparks play of the year against the Liberty. <\/p>\n On the final play of the game, she posted up former Sparks player Stephanie Talbot and, with time running out, threw up a prayer of a shot. It went in, giving L.A. the road win over New York. <\/p>\n In this moment, Jackson can do no wrong<\/a>. Her current level of play, coinciding with the best Sparks run in years, is not coincidental. <\/p>\n Grade: A+<\/strong><\/p>\n Julie Allemand <\/strong><\/p>\n 33.3 minutes, 8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6 assists, 1.3 steals, 9-15 FG, 2-7 3PT, 4-5 FT, +29<\/p>\n With Allemand and Plum dishing out the dimes, the Sparks offense is flowing like water. What makes the pairing work so well is Allemand\u2019s willingness to play selfless basketball and be singularly focused on finding the best shot on the floor. <\/p>\n If anything, Allemand should be more aggressive as a scorer. For now, L.A. will settle for her being one of the best passers in the WNBA. <\/p>\n Grade: B+<\/strong><\/p>\n Rae Burrell<\/strong><\/p>\n 19.5 minutes, 8.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.3 blocks, 8-21 FG, 3-9 3PT, 6-10 FT, +21<\/p>\n Compared to her peers, this was an average week for Burrell. Her job is to come in and be a ball of energy off the bench, and she is doing that. However, the shooting percentages aren\u2019t great and you\u2019d like those numbers to be better, given how many shots she\u2019s taking. <\/p>\n Considering how well the Sparks are doing, it\u2019s hard to complain much, though. <\/p>\n Grade: C+<\/strong><\/p>\n Julie Vanloo<\/strong><\/p>\n 13.7 minutes, 5 points, 0.7 rebounds, 1 assist, 5-10 FG, 5-10 3PT, +7<\/p>\n How Vanloo plays has to be a dream for Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts. This week, Vanloo only took 3-pointers and shot 50% on those attempts. Given her role as a backup guard, Vanloo is slotted in a perfect job for her skill set. All she has to do is play replacement-level defense and take the open shots.<\/p>\n Grade: B<\/strong><\/p>\n Emma Cannon, Sania Feagin, Sarah Ashlee Barker<\/strong><\/p>\n This bench trio played too little to earn a grade this week. So far, they\u2019ve been used for temporary rest for the rotation players and saw extended play when the results were secured. <\/p>\n Lynne Roberts<\/strong><\/p>\n Whether it\u2019s fair or unfair, coaches get judged on their team\u2019s record. With the Sparks playing well, it\u2019s hard to find faults in Roberts\u2019 process. <\/p>\n Her rotations have worked, she hasn\u2019t missed any pivotal challenges and she has multiple players on track for career years. <\/p>\n Roberts\u2019 next challenge will be her biggest one in trying to implement Brink into this team while making a playoff push. In the meantime, she can relish in her success as a rookie head coach in the WNBA. <\/p>\n Grade: A<\/strong><\/p>\n You can follow Edwin on Twitter at <\/strong>@ECreates88<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>or on Bluesky at <\/strong>@ecreates88.bsky.social<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n