Alissa Pili has been signed to a developmental contract by the Los Angeles Sparks, head coach Lynne Roberts revealed at practice today. Laura Ziegler held the spot that Pili is slotting into. Pili played for the Sparks last season and has been rehabbing from a lower leg injury.
Hi!
Last year, I co-organized a group trip to a game and got to go on the court after the game for autographs (Cam and SAB). We also got to high-five the Connecticut Sun, which was weird, but ok. It was sponsored by NBA Top Shot (IYKYK). So I've got a little experience at this type of thing now. 💪
I'm doing it again this year, but there were some last minute minute bailouts (LA, amirite?!?!). You just need to be able to attend the game (7pm tip) and stay a little late (it's only like 30 minutes for the autograph session so like 10pm?). I'd love to have some Members of this community join.
IF YOU WANNA GO
DM me with what two players you hope will be signing this year, if you'd like one ticket or two, AND guess the total points scored tonight in Indiana vs. Vegas. :) And send it before Indiana vs. Vegas tips off. I'll sort it out after that game ends.
ps. It's Hello Kitty Night, so you're going to want to be in line at 6p when doors open.
pps. If you use NBA Top Shot or want to join, they'd be thrilled, but I ain't gonna hound you.
ppps. Vegas, Toronto, Seattle or Atlanta, our little group of organizers may strike there next...
pppps. I hope it's ok to post in the general, 'cuz I'm not Buying, Selling, or Trading. We get a grant from Top Shot, they pay, I just manage ;)
Quick clarification: This for people who need and can use the full group package as offered — game ticket + group seating + post-game autograph session. There is no splitting the package, adding autograph-session guests, or considering requests from people trying to use separate tickets for the game and only join for the post-game session. Thanks!
Also, this specific opportunity is free because the spots are already covered and a couple people couldn’t make it.
If there’s interest, I may organize another group outing later in the season for people who want to buy into a similar package. Depending on the game/package, it’d probably be around $70–150. I think that’s pretty fair for the ticket plus group experience, so let me know if you’d be interested.
I just knew that the match against Mercury will be held at the Galen Center on August 11. Can anyone tell me why?
I want to book a ticket for this game, but it doesn't even show up on axs 😓
Maybe I'm reading wayyyy too much into Lynne's answer (or lack thereof) regarding how the Sparks want to use Kate, but to me it feels like Lynne wants Kate on the roster and it's the front office that's dragging their feet. Idk, anyone else feel that way?
Also I don't really buy the whole "we want to save our games so we have them later in the season." If that was really the case, they wouldn't have burned through 10 of her games as quickly as they did, especially because they didn't really need to.
Video credit to John W. Davis on X! https://x.com/johnwdavis/status/2072731514857750925
I keep seeing people saying the Sparks are tanking for Juju on multiple subs. I thought she would be part of the 2028 or the 2029 draft class? How does tanking now help your lottery chances 2 to 3 years from now? Or, are people just clowning the Sparks? I'm so confused 🤣.
Are regular seat holders able to get in to the stadium early to watch warmups and such? Is that an extra ticket to buy maybe? Just wondering about the protocol. Obviously, we’d love to try to get an autograph, though afterward would probably be better…them having to focus on the upcoming game and all.
Edit: Thank you all for the info! Even the one for a Valkyries home game lol 😊
Los Angeles receives: Janelle Salaün, Kaitlyn Chen, 2027 first-round pick, 2028 first-round pick
A player as good as Kelsey Plum has never been traded midseason, but if you're Golden State, you have to at least make a call here. The 5'8" guard is having one of the best all-around scoring seasons by a guard ever, averaging 23.9 points on 63.6 percent from two, 38.3 percent from three and 80.6 percent at the free-throw line.
The Valkyries have built an elite defense, but they still lack a go-to scoring option to push them into legitimate title contention. Those shot creation issues have shown up in the clutch, where Golden State's 95.2 offensive rating ranks No. 14, ahead of only Connecticut.
With Plum, there's no question about what she can bring late in games. Over the last two seasons, nobody has averaged more points per game in the clutch (3.8), and she's done it on great efficiency (59.5% true shooting).
Golden State also has the defensive infrastructure to cover for her weaknesses on that end. Veronica Burton is a fantastic point-of-attack defender, Gabby Williams is the best wing defender in the world and Kiah Stokes has been the best rim protector in the league on a per-minute basis.
The bigger question is whether Los Angeles would actually move her. The Sparks are 8-10 and only a game out of the 8-seed, but Plum is currently sidelined for at least 10 games with a leg injury. Where will the Sparks be in the playoff race in a month? And is it even worth pushing for a playoff spot with the risk of losing Plum for nothing in free agency if she doesn't re-sign?
On top of that, does the Los Angeles front office and coaching staff have enough job security to trade Plum and survive another season? That's likely the biggest question here.
If the Sparks did explore a deal, a return built around Janelle Salaün, Kaitlyn Chen (or Justė Jocytė) and two unprotected first-round picks would be solid value for an older star on an expiring contract. Salaün is only 24 and already the best 6'3" shooter in the league, while Chen looks like a real rotation guard in her second year, too.
Overall, Golden State's front office is working under a five-year championship mandate from ownership, so if they believe the roster around Plum is already in place to win a title right now, it may be worth doing whatever it takes to get a deal done.
Thoughts? What Should FO do to correct course?
Cameron Brink to Indiana for Damiras Dantas
Alternately, Cameron Brink to Golden State for Kiah Stokes
Dearica Hamby to Dallas for Alysha Clark
Rae Burrell to Las Vegas for Jewell Loyd
Ta'Niya Latson to Seattle for Katie Lou Samuelson
Kelsey Plum to New York for a first round pick swap in the 2027 draft
BETTER DAYS SOON🥹
Los Angeles took her at No. 20 overall (second round) in the 2026 draft after she led Division I in scoring at Florida State, averaging 25.4 points per game as a junior.
She spent her final college season at South Carolina, where her scoring dropped to 14.1 per game but her efficiency was the best of her career. As a rookie she’s averaging 1.8 points, 1.0 rebound, and 0.3 assists in 5.0 minutes a night.
In the clip she talks about staying ready despite the limited role and learning to play point guard after spending most of her college career at shooting guard. Per a recent ClutchPoints interview, she says she stays ready whether the night brings 20 minutes, four minutes, or none.
h/t: johnwdavis
I’m looking to support more small Sparks coverage pages and fan pages! i don’t have a Sparks specific page but on my main i’m ALWAYS giving commentary about the Sparks and the LakeShow on my story! Drop your @‘s below for a follow!!
Who would you all want as a coach? TSpoon? Harding? Tolliver? Close? Gottlieb?
Roberts’s lack of composure and general ineptness have made me wary of college coaches. And while I like TSpoon — she seems like a tremendous person and mentor — her xo’s coaching stints in the W and unrivaled have been hit and miss.
Play GM for a minute. What’s a “realistic” trade you would make by the August deadline and why?
Are the Sparks gonna win any games in July without KP? I would not be suprised to see them go 0-8. They were not even competitive with Toronto or Indiana. Maybe they get one win but i dont see them winning much at all. Makes me sad. They need to make some trade deadline moves or something because this is not a playoff roster.
The last two games have been...rough. Well, OK let’s be honest, the whole season has been pretty rough. So I thought, why not create a designated complaint thread where we can all just get everything that’s been bothering us off our chests lol. Coaching, rotations, lineups, effort, defense, offense, FO, something else - fire away. I’ll start…..
i like this cause i want pressure on lynne and reagan coming from all sides
here’s the text:
My thoughts on the Sparks:
This is a “read and react” system that was crafted primarily around KP and she is my literal fav aka a BUCKET, praying for my girl’s speedy recovery! But with this roster, the Sparks vision should have been adapted to maximize what you have and mask what you don’t. Every team has a “motion” or “safety net” offense that plays to their strengths… instead it seems the players are forcing a system that isn’t molding to them. This is especially highlighted when KP is out.
Which is why it is important to have an offensive safety net which most call a “motion offense.” Ball swings side to side, players are in their favorite spots and it’s a comfort zone when all hell breaks loose in a game! For example, something that easily creates strategic isolations for KP, short rolls for Nneka, drives for Dearica, off the dribble midrange jumpers for Ariel, finds Rae downhill in transitionetc… But right now this process is buffering. 😭
Now defensively, I remember “back when I played” 🤣💀 if my team was struggling with defense, our coach would want to simplify coverages. For example, “let’s ice all screens or hedge all screens.” But at this level, if you do that… you are BBQ chicken. Players are too smart! I was in Crypto to see my dawg Slim drop 37, the “rookie and the vet” Olivia drop 30 and my fav girl ‘Rina go for 53 on the Sparks… the W is a league of adjustments & “KYP” aka know your PERSONNEL, not simply team coverages.
Just as much as I am proud of my big sis in Year 15 still doing her thing 🤯❤️ … I also want to see the young players develop and thrive! Cam was really on a roll and I love getting to know players like Taniya as we cover them through their transition to the league.
I always say the W is a sisterhood and there is so much good, I just want everybody to win! Maybe that’s why I’m in studio now and not on the court. 💀😂
Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk. 💜✨
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