When I’m following a team, I wish for them to be: 1) Good, or if they can’t be good, then 2) Bad in a record-setting fashion, or at least 3) Interesting. The trouble with the Los Angeles Sparks is that they’re none of the three. They were interesting Monday at Golden State while Kate Martin — back in Ballhalla for the first time since a rather shocking training camp waiver — was on the floor. I can’t be the only one who noticed that Martin was the only Spark to register a net positive +/-. The Valkyries are good and …
Category: wnba
Golden State 78 Los Angeles 58
The Chase Center crowd didn’t disappoint me when it was time to welcome back Kate Martin. The Valkyries showed a Martin highlight reel with her voiceover, but that couldn’t be heard over the crowd roar. I rode the 9:15 a.m. train northbound this morning, and have boarded the 10:25 p.m. southbound to get home. That’s a long day in order to watch one basketball game, so of course I hoped for a better game than Golden State 78 Los Angeles 58. I said at the post-game press conference: “In the days when I was the only person you had to …
That roar is not the San Andreas Fault cracking, but the Ballhalla crowd greeting Kate Martin
Golden State crowds welcomed back Monique Billings (now with Indiana) and Carla Leite (thriving in Portland) with loud, loving ovations — the roving cameras found a kid with Leite sign _crying_, for heaven’s sake. Tonight, Los Angeles and Kate Martin visit. “Fan favorite” doesn’t fully describe Martin’s position in the Chase Center’s hearts. I’ll put it this way. I met a doctor with whom I talked baseball while he examined me. His name was Dr. Brooks Bahr, and in the course of conversation, he said he was born in Baltimore in 1970. My eyes widened. “They named you after…” Dr. …
For Golden State to beat visiting Los Angeles Monday, force Plum to keep the ball
The unkindest quip I’ve read about the 2026 Los Angeles Sparks is that their offense mostly devolves into four people standing around while Kelsey Plum dribbles. Which isn’t much different from my suggestion for how to beat them: Don’t let Plum share the ball. Even if Plum scorches her lone defender, you’re better off. Consider: In Plum’s three worst assist games — 2 vs. LV, 4 vs. IND, 6 vs. DAL — the Sparks are 0-3, even though Plum shot a smoking 58% (29-for-50). The rest of the team shot .421 on 64-for-152. In the Sparks’ other seven games, in …
Aces 78 Valkyries 72
Can you believe it, Los Angeles at Golden State this Saturday has playoff implications, insofar as the team that wins that game shall be #8 in the standings. The Sparks have won eight of nine, and seem to have kicked that ridiculous habit of taking off one quarter per game. I’ve missed most of Los Angeles’ turnaround. I’m not as close to finishing this book of my chess teacher’s teachings as I thought, and time is running out. I’m either dying or fading fast, and I won’t be able to put this book together in a mad rush — I …
There’s a homecourt advantage in San Francisco, for some reason
The old Boston Garden was said to harbor an invisible leprechaun who assisted the Celtics in mysterious ways. Which I think is more likely than the crowd’s energy having anything to do with the home team’s performance. Personally, I think basketball games should do without those people. Two teams, a crew of officials, game staff, media who don’t ask trite questions. The Golden State Valkyries won their third straight at home, 88-77 vs. Indiana on Thursday. In coach Natalie Nakase’s pregame conference, she said the team was eager to resume playing at the Chase Center, where the sellout crowds serve …
The worst seat in the Chase Center tonight for Fever at Valkyries is $176
At the open house for Valkyries season ticket buyers, I asked to see the worst seat in the Chase Center, just in case it was the only one I could afford. For tonight’s game vs. Indiana, the worst seat in the house is going for $176. For Sunday’s game vs. Connecticut, it’s $65. After Golden State beat Las Vegas, Los Angeles (at Los Angeles), and Seattle, their 3-game winning streak was the longest in the league. By winning their 5th game, the Valkyries outdid (in 10 games) what Chicago did in their inaugural season (4-30 in 2008). GS forward Kayla …
Los Angeles 93 Dallas 79
I’m relieved by Los Angeles’ win at Dallas Friday. Basketball coaches and chessplayers know the feeling when losses are devastating, while wins are just a relief. I’m glad Coach Roberts, who’s already fired on the Internet, didn’t lose a fourth game in a row. Internet sports forums are immeasurably worse than sports talk radio was, back in my day. Sports talk radio are screened by radio staff. If they get on the air, they can be flushed by a host who’s heard enough. Instead, it’s Dallas coach Koclanes who’s getting double secret fired on the Internet, though some think Koclanes …
On the Internet, Sparks coach Roberts fired, and Sparks wing Jackson traded
Los Angeles Sparks wing Rickea Jackson missed three games in May under the concussion protocol. She returned for losses to the Lynx and Dream, making as many fouls and turnovers as points. Jackson took time off, citing personal reasons. Los Angeles coach Roberts said: “Rickea is a big part of our organization and our team. She’s taking personal time, and we support her. We’re excited to get her back when she’s ready.” There followed pregnancy rumors on the Internet — which Jackson might have fueled herself — and the removal of her team affiliation on a social media profile. It’s …
Phoenix 85 Los Angeles 80
Phoenix beat Los Angeles 85-80 Sunday. It took 17 minutes for Los Angeles to build a 47-29 lead, then 10 minutes to trail 58-57. Falling back to points after turnovers as the Sparks’ bugaboo, the hosts made four turnovers in the last 2:54 of the first half, resulting in four Phoenix points. Those four points were part of that 18-point lead shrinking to 13 at the buzzer. The Mercury won the third quarter 24-9. Balls got loose, players crashed to the floor, messes were made. Around the turn of the ’10s, I followed Coach Roberts’ Pacific team on a road …