A Los Angeles Sparks come the Women's National Basketball Association team based in Los Angeles, California. Based around 1997, it is one of a original WNBA team & were one of a teams that participated in the league's maiden game.

Since their origin, the Sparks keep close at hand been a focal point of the league. Despite this, it got little early profits & went across many coaches. When a team signed previous Los Angeles Lakers star Michael Cooper as head coach and processed occasionally key roll changes, the team manufactured a promptly turnaround. Since so, it stand been one of a virtually all systematically successful teams in the WNBA.

A team's major star has universally been USC standout Lisa Leslie, who has led a Sparks since existence signed to the team around 1997. A Sparks come a sister team of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Uniform:

Golden using purple lines unofficially home, by having a title Sparks written through within purple. Purple by owning golden Yellowness lines unofficially on tour, using a title Sparks inside Yellow.

History
A Sparks misused to the New York Liberty in the WNBA's inaugural game. Sparks streaming video player Penny Toler scored the league's 1st 2 points by using the lay-layup therein game. a Sparks experienced what numbers of considered to exist as the unsatisfying year within 1997, finishing by using the record of 14-14, thanks to a loss to the Phoenix Mercury in the final game of the year, which eliminated the Sparks from either playoff contention. Around 1998, a Sparks finished exclusively 12-18, missing the playoffs over again. It earned playoff berths sustaining a facilitate of Lisa Leslie in 1999 and 2000 (with records of 20-12 & the league-right 28-Four, severally), however their hopes ended inside frustration people years, particularly once it had eliminated per Houston Comets.

Around 2001, former Los Angeles Lakers streaming video player Michael Cooper coached a Sparks to their number one championship, fallowing a Sparks were breaa to eventually eliminate a Comets in the playoffs, & beat the Charlotte Sting for the championship. Within 2002, Leslie became a number 1 woman to dunk shot in a league & the Sparks returned to the WNBA Finals, defeating the New York Liberty to become back-to-back champions. It returned to the Finals inside 2003, however wasted to the Detroit Shock in three games.

A 2004 year marked a season of vary for the Sparks. It signed deuce standout players, Tamika Whitmore & Teresa Weatherspoon, who experienced played for their rival team a New York Liberty. Additionally, their coach Michael Cooper left midseason to seek the coaching in the NBA. When a Sparks finished sustaining one of a league's right regular year records, it were eliminated in the number 1 around of the playoffs per Sacramento Monarchs.

Around 2005, a Sparks processed a playoffs in the American Conference in the for & final playoff berth. Over again, it played a Sacramento Monarchs. It misplaced a series, Two-0.

Previous University of Tennessee star Chamique Holdsclaw was a key addition to the team's roll inside 2005. She come to the Sparks inside the trade that sent Delishthe Milton-Jones & a foremost-around draft pick to the Inland northwest Religious mystic. Sustaining Lisa Leslie, it formed one of a virtually all formidable duos in the league.

Players of note
Hall of Famers

Not to be forgotten
Latasha Byears Allison Feaster La'Keshia Frett DeLisha Milton Penny Toler, now a Sparks' General Manager

Current stars
Tamecka Dixon Chamique Holdsclaw Lisa Leslie Mwadi Mabika Nikki Teasley Tamika Whitmore Christie Thomas

Coaches and others
Head Coaches: Linda Sharp (1997) Julie Rosseau (1997-1998), now a Head Coach at Pepperdine University Orlando Wooldrige (1998-1999) Michael Cooper (1999-2004) Karleen Thompson & Ryan Weisenberg (adjunct coaches under Michael Cooper, took on top mid-year 2004) Henry Bibby (2005 - August 16, 2005) Joe "Jellybean" Bryant (August 17, 2005 - Present