​ATLANTA is the scene for a period of upheaval for the L.A. Sparks. Kelsey Plum and Cameron Brink remain sidelined, and on Sunday the organization announced the departure of General Manager Raegan Pebley. In the wake of Pebley’s exit, Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts stepped into a new role with the team as its leader. The immediate task is clear: keep moving forward.
Roberts spoke to reporters during Sunday morning practice, emphasizing her focus on the players, the coaching staff, and the team’s overall trajectory in Atlanta. “I just found out this morning. Raegan’s a friend of mine, and I care about her,” she said. “This is the hard part in sports, right? But right now, I’m focused on the team.” The Sparks entered a four-game road swing with a 10-11 record, and the upcoming stretch feels especially consequential.
“We’ve had a sense of urgency all season,” Roberts explained. “We’ve had peaks and valleys in how we’ve played and in which players were available due to injuries. But I feel like we’re playing some of the best basketball we’ve shown all season over the last two games, and we need to build on that. There’s always a sense of urgency.”
The trip begins in Atlanta, home to a Dream squad that has built a formidable roster around Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, Jordin Canada, and Naz Hillmon, among others. The offseason addition of Angel Reese added even more star power, and Brionna Jones, when healthy, should make them even more dangerous. Gray, Howard, and Reese earned spots on the WNBA All-Star team recently.
Yet Atlanta has hit a rough patch after a fast start. The Dream opened 12-4 but have slumped to 13-10, dropping six of their last seven games. The question for the Sparks is whether that skid matters to them.
Roberts reiterated that the focus must stay internal. “We’re in a situation where we have to focus on ourselves,” she said. “We’re still finding our stride, so we’ll have a game plan ready and carry confidence from the last couple of games. But we’ve got to concentrate on our own play and not look ahead or worry about who we’re facing. Atlanta is a strong team, and in this league, any squad can beat any other on any given night. We can’t afford to look past them. We have to take care of our business and stick to our plan.”
As for the Dream, Roberts acknowledged their high caliber. “They’re in a similar boat with us in terms of injuries,” she noted. “Bri Jones is a huge part of what they do and she hasn’t played yet; we hear she’s close and might suit up tomorrow. Reese’s status is unclear, but regardless, the Dream are a team that leads the league in steals, forces turnovers, and runs to the rim. Whether Bri and Reese are on the floor or not, those traits remain. Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray are among the best guards in the world at shooting and creating opportunities, so they’re a dangerous, well-rounded squad.”
Sparks guard Kate Martin added that the Dream are a large, aggressive team on the boards, excels in offensive rebounding, and excels in pushing the pace in transition. All of this makes Atlanta a challenging opponent, but Roberts remains determined to keep her club focused on its own path and execution as they navigate this period of transition and strive to return to their best basketball.