TORRANCE — The Sparks have a prime opportunity to pick up some wins during a three-game road trip that begins with matchups against two of the bottom three teams in the WNBA standings.
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The Sparks (5-6) begin their West Coast trip against the Seattle Storm on Wednesday night before playing Phoenix on Saturday and Golden State on Monday.
“We really need to take care of business and go out there and execute the game plan,” Sparks guard Kate Martin said.
The Sparks are coming off an 89-72 victory over the Portland Fire on Sunday, which ended the team’s three-game losing streak. All-Star forwards Nneka Ogwumike and Dearica Hamby combined for 44 points and 29 rebounds in the double-digit win.
“We really brought that defensive mindset when we held them to 72 points,” Martin said, “and I think we can do more of that.”
Seattle (3-10) is on a six-game losing streak, including a 101-91 home loss to the Las Vegas Aces on Monday, and is 14th of 15 teams in the league standings. However, Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said Seattle is better than its record.
“Any road win is tough,” Roberts said on Tuesday afternoon at the team’s practice facility. “We’re not overlooking anybody at this stage.”
The Storm have four players averaging double figures in points: second-year center Dominique Malonga (14.8 ppg), veteran guard Natisha Hiedeman (13.8 ppg), rookie guard Flau’jae Johnson (11.6 ppg) and rookie center Awa Fam (10 ppg).
“Super explosive,” Roberts said when asked about Johnson. “Really active offensively, defensively. She’s still learning, and you can tell that, but has the potential to get hot. So we have to run her off the 3-point line and make her make decisions. I think that’s the key with her. Get her into decision-making as she’s still a rookie that’s learning, but tons of talent.”
Two of the last players putting in additional work after practice Tuesday were developmental contract players: Martin and rookie forward Laura Ziegler, an undrafted player from Louisville.
“I’ve been really appreciative of being here,” said Ziegler, who describes herself as an energetic and versatile player who can knock down 3-pointers and rebound. “For me, it’s coming and bringing energy every day. Staying ready if the chance presents itself, but also just keep getting better.”
Los Angeles Sparks rookie forward Laura Ziegler on her time as a developmental contract player in the WNBA, which includes working out with fellow developmental contract player Kate Martin.
Ziegler also talks about learning from All-Star forwards Nneka Ogwumike and Dearica Hamby… pic.twitter.com/fU081QTELT
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) June 9, 2026
Martin, a third-year guard out of Iowa, has played in seven games. She scored five points in eight minutes against Portland.
“How much I play, that’s all out of my control,” Martin said. “All I can control is when I get out there, making an impact, whether that’s defensively or just breathing life, bringing energy to my teammates, or scoring.”
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“Kate knows what she’s doing … she knows her role,” Roberts added. “She knows what her value is and I think players have confidence playing with her because of that.”
The former Iowa guard is averaging 3.3 points in 7.9 minutes per game. She’s shooting 50% from the field and 41.7% from 3-point range.
Roberts said she would like to get Martin more playing time.
“Yes, and like I said after the game, you have a plan with rotations,” Roberts said. “It’s like, alright, we’re going to get Martin 15 to 18 minutes, and then something happens in the game where it’s like oh we have to sub differently, or we have to do this, so in theory absolutely.”
Ziegler, a 6-foot-2 stretch forward who was born and raised in Denmark, has yet to play this season, but Roberts said she’s always in the right spot during practice.
“It’s a tough role for a player because you don’t know if you’re going to play or not,” Roberts explained. “And even if you do get activated, you don’t know if you’re going to get in or not, so it’s tough, but I love them both.”
Los Angeles Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts on her confidence in developmental players Kate Martin and Laura Ziegler.
Coach Roberts said she would like to give Kate Martin more playing time but said that depends on in-game rotations. pic.twitter.com/0x8yP62KOI
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) June 9, 2026
MARTIN’S STATUS
“Hopefully not for long,” Sparks guard Kelsey Plum said when asked about Martin’s status as a developmental player after Sunday’s win. “You see her impact every time she goes in the game. Her energy. She makes shots. She’s super active, and we need more of Kate Martin.”
However, Plum said it is not her job to consider that Martin has been active and played in seven of the 12 games, the maximum allowed for developmental contract players.
“That’s not my job,” Plum continued. “My job is whoever is on the roster that day, just put them into positions to be successful. I obviously have experience playing with Kate, and one of the things I love about Kate, she’s always in the right spot, and so that’s why you see us connect a lot of times. She’s just always in the right spot, so I’m looking forward to play with Kate Martin a lot more this year.”
Martin said she finds herself in the “right spot” by reading what the defense gives the Sparks and playing off the gravity that All-Stars like Plum, Hamby, and Ogwumike create.
“You gotta send two to them, so here I am in the corner open,” Martin explained. “Kelsey is a great passer, so she just happens to find me, and I just want to knock the shot down.”
Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum says she’s looking forward to playing with Kate Martin a lot more this season.
She said Martin is always in the right spot.
Martin is currently on a developmental contract but Plum says hopefully not for much longer. pic.twitter.com/zY2oRYMvvG
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— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) June 8, 2026
SPARKS (5-6) AT SEATTLE (3-10)
When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.
Where: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle
TV: USA, Spectrum SportsNet