Los Angeles Sparks 2018 season: 19–15, scoring 78.9 points per game and allowing 77 (+1.9 average margin) across 34 games. Updated August 16, 2026.
The Sparks finished 19–15, 6th in the league standings, with a +2.2 net rating that ranked 6th of 12. Defense was the identity — 2nd in defensive rating (98.9 per 100) against a 8th-ranked offense (101.1). They ground games down, slowest pace in the league. Their calling cards were forcing turnovers (opponents give it away on 19.2% of possessions) and ball security (15.5 turnovers a game, 2nd-fewest); the soft spots, getting to the free-throw line (19.8 attempts, 12th) and offensive rebounding (9.2 a game, 11th). Candace Parker (17.9 ppg) and Chelsea Gray (14.9) carried the scoring load between them, though the on/off numbers point to Odyssey Sims as the one they can least afford to lose — +10.9 per 100 possessions better with her on the floor. The high points: a 5-game winning streak (Jun 10–Jun 19) and a 26-point rout of the Liberty on Jun 24. The lows: a 3-game losing streak (Jul 3–Jul 7) and a 29-point loss at the Wings on Jun 22. They went 8–11 against teams at .500 or better. Bottom line: a solid playoff-caliber team whose ceiling depended on addressing a lack of free throws.
Shot-zone charts shaded against the WNBA average, four factors versus opponents, most-used lineups by net rating, on/off player impact, and where the Sparks rank league-wide.