- 1997
- 2001
- 2002
- 2016
-
Sparks Team Creation
The WNBA began its first season on June 21, 1997, to little fanfare. The first WNBA game featured the New York Liberty facing the Los Angeles Sparks in Los Angeles. The game was televised nationally in the United States on the NBC television network. -
2001 WNBA Championship
The 2001 WNBA Championship was the championship series of the 2001 WNBA season and the conclusion of the season’s playoffs. The Los Angeles Sparks, top-seeded champions of the Western Conference, defeated the Charlotte Sting, fourth-seeded champions of the Eastern Conference, two games to none in a best-of-three series. This was Los Angeles’ first title. The Sparks made their first appearance ... -
2002 WNBA Championship
The 2002 WNBA Finals was the championship series of the 2002 WNBA season and the conclusion of the season’s playoffs. The Los Angeles Sparks, top-seeded champions of the Western Conference, defeated the New York Liberty, top-seeded champions of the Eastern Conference, two games to none in a best-of-three series. This was Los Angeles’ second title. As of 2017, this is ... -
2016 WNBA Championship
The 2016 WNBA Finals was the best-of-five championship series for the 2016 season of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). The top-seeded Minnesota Lynx held home-court advantage in the Finals but lost three games to two to the second-seeded Los Angeles Sparks. The series followed a 2–2–1 format and eschewed the previous tradition of having the Western Conference champion face ...
History of the Sparks
The Los Angeles Sparks are among the most successful teams in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The team was founded in 1997 and has since won two WNBA championships, three conference titles, and seven division titles. Led by superstars such as Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike, the Sparks have become an iconic franchise for sports fans around the world.
Since their inception over 20 years ago, the Los Angeles Sparks has been a model of consistency on both ends of the court. The team has featured some all-time greats at every position, including Lisa Leslie, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players to ever play in women’s professional basketball history. In addition to her accolades, she led LA to back-to-back championships during the 2001 & 2002 seasons, forever cementing her legacy with this organization.
The current roster features many talented veterans like Chelsea Gray, considered by many experts as one of the best point guards currently playing in the WNBA today, while young stars like Kalani Brown provide promising glimpses into what the future might hold for this legendary franchise. With exciting players, passionate coaches, and a dedicated fan base, it seems that the sky is the limit regarding the potential success that could be achieved by these “Los Angeles Sparkles” moving forward!
Sparks Products
Established
1997
City
Los Angeles
League History
1997 – Present / Women’s National Basketball Association
Team History
1997 – Present / Los Angeles Sparks
Nickname
Sparks – The Los Angeles Sparks are among the most successful teams in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). They have won three championships and four conference titles since their inception in 1997. But many people don't know that their nickname has an interesting origin story.
The team was named after "Sparks" Street, a street near the Staples Center where they play home games. Then-owner Jerry Buss chose the name to honor his late father, Jack Buss, who had lived on Sparks Street for many years before he passed away in 1996.
In addition to being a tribute to Jack Buss, there is another reason why this particular name resonates with basketball fans: it also pays homage to former Lakers greats Magic Johnson and Michael Cooper, who both wore jersey number "14," which just so happens to be the same as Spark’s first season logo design! This connection between past Laker's greatness and present-day success makes for an even more special meaning behind Los Angeles' beloved WNBA team nickname; it speaks volumes about how much these two legends mean within LA and across all basketball fandom worldwide!
Championship
WNBA Championships 3
2016, 2002, 2001
Arena
2001 – Present / Staples Center
1997 – 2000 / The Forum
Owner
2014 – Present / Sparks LA Sports, LLC
2011 – 2014 / Williams Group Holdings
2007 – 2011 / Gemini Basketball LLC
1997 – 2006 / Jerry Buss
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
Retired Number
9 / Lisa Leslie
11 / Penny Toler
*Blue is this team’s history
