The Los Angeles Sparks have a game left to play in the 2025 WNBA season, but that doesn’t matter anymore. 

Kelsey Plum and the Sparks are eliminated from contention for a spot in the postseason. Los Angeles won its last two outings, as the Sparks looked to take care of what the team could control amid a final push for a playoff berth, but those pair of victories were simply not enough to get them over the hump. 

With the Seattle Storm coming away with a thrilling 74-73 win over the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday to claim outright the No. 8 spot in the WNBA standings, the bridge to the playoffs effectively was cut off for the Sparks. 

That is now five seasons in a row that Los Angeles has been absent from the playoffs. Even after the addition of Kelsey Plum, the Sparks ultimately did not do enough to join the postseason fray. For what it’s worth, they managed to win 21 games already, which is more than what they garnered in any of the previous five years. 

In the eyes of LA head coach Lynne Roberts, those victories are nothing to scoff at.

“[We have] 21 wins. The league is as good as it’s ever been,” Roberts said following the Sparks’ 88-83 win over the Phoenix Mercury on the road on Wednesday, per the team’s official website. 

“There’s not a year in the history that 21 wins doesn’t get you in the playoffs. 21 wins in a league that is just competitive from top to bottom. I’m proud of our team for sticking together and sticking with me. They’ve bought in, and they’re playing their tails off, and everyone’s tired.”

The work isn’t going to stop for the Sparks even though they have already learned their playoff fate. There is an intriguing offseason ahead for Los Angeles, as it looks to address the issues that hurt the team, perhaps none more concerning than its defense. 

While the Sparks have one of the best offenses in the league this season, as they are fourth overall with a 105.5 defensive rating, they are among the worst on the other side of the court, allowing 108.2 points per 100 possessions – fourth-worst in the WNBA.

The Sparks can still turn heads in their final 2025 WNBA game

With their playoff chase over, the only thing left this season for the Sparks is a date with the scorching Las Vegas Aces. 

A’ja Wilson and the Aces are on a stunning 15-game win streak. They have not lost since Aug. 3, and are looking like a big nightmare for their matchup in the quarterfinal round of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs. But before that, they will have to deal with the Sparks, who have practically nothing to lose in this Friday’s game at Crypto.com Arena. 

If anything, the Sparks have a chance to at least have a memorable win in front of their fans, as they close the curtain of their 2025 campaign.