The Los Angeles Sparks are ready to turn the page. A new season. A new year. A fresh start. And what better way to kick things off than by facing the team that has defined WNBA excellence over the past four years?
On Sunday, the Sparks open their 2026 campaign at home against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces—a squad that has hoisted the trophy three out of the last four seasons. For Los Angeles, it's a baptism by fire, but also a golden opportunity to measure just how far they've come.
The Aces are coming off a tough loss on Saturday, but they'll have little time to dwell on it. They'll march into L.A. with championship pedigree and a target on their backs. The Sparks, meanwhile, will be battling first-game jitters—like the first day of school, but with a basketball court and a sellout crowd.
"I don't really get butterflies," said second-year Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts with a calm confidence at Saturday's practice. "If you prepare, it gives you confidence. I've done this long enough. But I am excited. I'm ready to get going. I am happy with where the group's at and who we have. Just ready to get going."
For veteran forward Dearica Hamby, the emotions run a little deeper. "I would say more just like gratitude this season," she shared. "When I got drafted, I was the 6th pick, and at the time, the average time in the league was like three years. I never imagined playing basketball this long—or even playing basketball at all. So I'd say more so gratitude. But of course, I'm going to feel butterflies and excitement on the first game of the season."
The Sparks roster is a blend of fresh energy and familiar faces. Newcomers Ariel Atkins, Ta'Niya Latson, and Chance Gray bring speed and versatility, while veterans like Nneka Ogwumike and Erica Wheeler provide steady leadership. Holdovers like Hamby, Kelsey Plum, Rae Burrell, and Cameron Brink add continuity. And for the first time in a while, the entire squad is healthy and ready to roll.
Coach Roberts sees the chemistry forming faster than expected. "We've got six new players, but it doesn't feel like it," she said. "The group is very bought-in to one another, to the system, both sides of the ball. We're already better defensively than we were at the end of the season last year. I don't know if it's been a surprise, but that's been the most encouraging thing. It's just the buy-in, the way they're talking to each other."
That defensive improvement is exactly what the Sparks are banking on in 2026. Against the mighty Aces, they'll need every bit of it. But if the energy in practice is any indication, Los Angeles is ready to make some noise of their own.