The Los Angeles Sparks have been one of the hottest teams in the WNBA since the All-Star break, posting a 4-1 record during that span. Extending back before the break, the Sparks have won seven of their last nine games. Interestingly, most of these wins have come on the road, as the Sparks hold the league’s worst home record at 3-9. After their recent 108-106 road victory over the Seattle Storm, Kelsey Plum addressed this unusual trend.
“If I had the answer, I’d tell you,” Plum said at the post-game press conference. “We’re professionals and we’ll figure it out. Tonight’s win was a big step forward. Coming up, we have a tough game at home against Indiana—they play great basketball, so it won’t be easy.” She added, “Every game matters as we see the rankings, and protecting home court is key for playoff positioning. Usually, winning your home games gets you into the playoffs. I’m accountable for getting those home wins now.”
With this victory over the Storm, the Sparks have the most road wins in the league with nine, a mark the Minnesota Lynx matched after defeating the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday. Among the top teams—New York Liberty (17-10), Atlanta Dream (17-11), and Phoenix Mercury (16-11)—only the Mercury have a winning road record at 8-7. Alongside the Lynx, Mercury, and Storm, the Sparks are one of the few teams with positive road records.
If the Sparks could replicate their road game success at home, they would rank among the WNBA’s elite teams. Sparks head coach Lynn Roberts expressed confusion over the team’s home struggles, saying after the Storm win, “I think we eliminate distractions on the road. It’s a collective mindset thing for many.”
Fan Take: This trend exposes a unique challenge for the Sparks and highlights how mental toughness and environment impact performance. For WNBA fans, it underscores the importance of home court advantage and how overcoming such hurdles could make the Sparks an even more formidable contender.
