2015 Record:
14-20; lost in first round of Playoffs

Key Offseason Moves:
Nneka Ogwumike, Candace Parker, Jasmine Lister (re-signed); Ann Wauters, Essence Carson, Eugeniya Belyakova, Jelena Dubljevic (signed); Riquana Williams (acquired in trade & injured for year); Erin Phillips (traded)

Last Year’s Draft Picks:
1st round/7th overall: Crystal Bradford
2nd round/14th overall: Cierra Burdick
3rd round/31st overall: Andrea Hoover

This Year’s Draft Picks:
1st round/6th overall
2nd round/17th overall
3rd round/29th overall

Season Highlights:

Team Needs:
Less than a month after the Sparks made the biggest trade of the offseason, dealing their fifth pick in the 2016 Draft and Erin Phillips to Dallas for Riquana Williams, the sixth pick in the 2016 Draft and the Wings’ 2017 1st-round pick, L.A.’s newest scoring weapon was lost for the season with a ruptured left Achilles tendon.

That injury will have an impact on the Sparks’ draft strategy. The team has two immediate needs: a shooter and frontcourt depth off the bench.

The Sparks have a dominant starting frontcourt trio with Parker, Ogwumike and Jantel Lavender, but could use a scorer from the guard position to help stretch opposing defenses. Also, by the playoffs, head coach Brian Angler reduced his bench to two guards – Ana Dabovic and Temeka Johnson – forcing him to go with a smaller lineup against the eventual champion Lynx and have Parker play all but five minutes over the three-game series. Depth up front would be a welcome addition for the Sparks in order for them to compete in a tough Western Conference.