The Los Angeles Sparks allowed more points than any team last year, at 88.2 points per game in 2025. This year, it's worse. Things haven't changed this year either, and head coach Lynne Roberts has addressed this issue.

Before the Portland Fire game on June 7, which the LA Sparks won 89-72, the Sparks coach responded to a reporter's question about the defensive struggles.

"Yes, very frustrating, but we’ll fix it." Roberts said. "You can do two things with frustration. You can stay in it or you can continue to grind and fix it and that’s what we’re doing. We’ll fix it, but it’s frustrating for sure."

Roberts also responded when the reporter asked her whether there would be any changes to the lineup to address the defensive side of their game.

"Yes, and that's the stage we're at," Roberts said. "So that's where we are at. So, stay tuned."

The Sparks made some offseason signings to improve their defense. They added defensive coach Ebony Hoffman and brought in two defensive veterans, Ariel Atkins and Nneka Ogwumike.

Despite these changes, the Sparks have been the worst defensive team so far this season. The team has allowed 93.0 points per game this season, according to StatMuse.

They have also made the lowest number of blocks per game, at just 2.8, according to the WNBA. The Sparks have the worst defensive rating in the league of 115.6, according to Basketball-Reference.

But the Sparks look to overcome this adversity after a solid win against the Fire.

Can the Los Angeles Sparks Shift the Gears?

While the team struggled defensively, they showed fighting spirit and resilience in their latest win against the Portland Fire.

This was Sparks' best game in terms of points allowed, with the Fire scoring only 72. With this win, the Sparks also broke their three-game losing streak.

They currently hold a 5-6 record and will face the Seattle Storm next. The Storm stand second-to-last in the league standings, with a 3-9 record. They are also on a five-game losing streak.

Amid the Storm's poor form, HC Roberts looks to come well-prepared before the game against them.

"It’s not going to be different playing Seattle in terms of we’re going to have a game plan that’s well thought out," Roberts said.

With Roberts and her team ready, the Sparks will play against the Storm on Wednesday, June 10.

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Written by

Dhruv Singh

Edited by

Surjo Ray