WNBA quarterly awards: Los Angeles Sparks edition

Let’s take a look at the season awards picture before the Sparks enter the final quarter of the year.

• By
  
  Edwin Garcia
  
• on August 11, 2023 7:20 am

At 11-18, there’s no sugarcoating the Los Angeles Sparks are having a disappointing season. They currently sit a game and a half back from the eighth and final playoff spot, and if they miss the postseason, it’ll mark the third season in a row they failed to make the playoffs. Thus assuring this is the worst era in the Sparks’ 27-year history.

While the team results have left much to be desired, a few players have shined amidst the muddiness of the season. So as has become a tradition, let’s give out our quarterly awards before we enter the final games of the regular season.

We gave out some accolades at the midway point of the year and there have already been some changes since then. Let’s see how things have shaked up before the team heads into their final leg.

Most Valuable Player: Nneka Ogwumike

How many more ways can we describe Nneka Ogwumike’s greatness? She’s started in all 28 games she’s played in and leads the team in both points (19.8) and rebounds (9.1). The 33-year-old is doing all this as the oldest player on the roster and playing in her 12th season.

Spending her entire WNBA career with the Sparks, Ogwumike remains the face of the franchise and continues to be the most productive player on the roster. Thanks to her prolific career and longevity, it seems like she breaks a new record by the day.

Earlier this month, Ogwumike passed Candace Parker on the Sparks’ all-time scoring list. She is now just behind Lisa Leslie for the franchise’s top spot.

“What a storied career she’s had here,” Curt Miller said following her accomplishment. “She helped bring a championship in 2016, she’s been an MVP of the league and she’s been tremendously loyal to this franchise.”

Although multiple players are having career years for the Sparks, none have outperformed Ogwumike to this point and that is why she deserves MVP honors on the team.

Defensive Player of the Year: Jordin Canada

Despite already being known for her defensive prowess, Jordin Canada has taken it up a notch this year. After signing with the Sparks on a training camp contract, Canada quickly emerged as a starter behind her feisty play.

Canada has been the defensive anchor for this team and their first line of defense against the league’s top guards. Her 1.9 steals per game is good for third-best in the league.

In a season filled with injuries and inconsistent play, one of the few constants has been Canada forcing her matchup to work for their numbers which makes her the perfect choice for this award.

Sixth Woman…