TORRANCE — The Sparks know they must win the overwhelming majority of their last 14 games even to have a shot at making the playoffs.
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Los Angeles is hopeful, in particular, after the addition of newly acquired point guard Monique Akoa Makani, who helped them earn their best win of the season against the first-place Minnesota Lynx on Thursday.
“I would say the main thing for me is to be able to play with confidence,” said Akoa Makani, who is averaging 9.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. “Be able to stay unified no matter what happens because to me in those situations. We have to take it one day at a time, one game at a time.”
However, even after the confidence gained by ending Minnesota’s 10-game win streak, the Sparks need to be consistent in their approach through meticulous preparation and in-game execution.
As a rookie, Akoa Makani helped the Phoenix Mercury reach the WNBA Finals. She is shooting 40.1% from 3-point range through most of two seasons in the league.
“To be a great team, you have to be able to trust that you can rely on every teammate,” Akoa Makani, 25, said. “Also, that they want to make you better and serve you. My mentality coming into this team is definitely for them to know that I’m here to serve. Whatever they need from me to be able to win games, I will be able to do that no matter what.”
If the Sparks can lock into the scouting report, as franchise all-time leading scorer Nneka Ogwumike often says, and play effective defense, in particular in the second half of games and clutch moments in the fourth quarter, they might be on to something in the home stretch of the regular season.
The Sparks (12-18) are on the verge of not making the playoffs for a franchise-extending record six consecutive seasons.
They are currently ninth in the standings and six games behind the Dallas Wings and New York Liberty for the league’s final playoff spot.
The Sparks are 2-1 since trading five-time All-Star guard Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury on Aug. 2 for Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick.
Sparks second-year coach Lynne Roberts said she believes it was a great trade.
“Just her defense, whether it’s off-ball or on-ball,” Roberts said at the team’s practice facility in Torrance. “I said it after the game, but every team has their own verbiage and vernacular. It’s different from the other team, and she’s come in and picked it up quick, which speaks to her intelligence.”
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The 5-foot-11 Akoa Makani, who started 56 of her 60 regular-season games in Phoenix, has played in the last two games for the Sparks as a reserve. Roberts said Akoa Makani could become a starter with the Sparks once she’s acclimated.
“It’s certainly an option,” Roberts said.
All three recent games were on the road, including Thursday’s 89-82 road win at Minnesota, which was sealed on a game-ending 8-0 run. Forward Rae Burrell led the Sparks with a team-high 17 points.
“I think just staying locked in like we were, staying aggressive on defense,” said Burrell, who is averaging a career-high 13.5 points on 46% shooting. “I think defense is what won us the game and just staying connected as a team.”
Cameron Brink scored 12 points and her all-around presence was felt with eight rebounds, five assists and three blocked shots in a season-high 25 minutes against the Lynx.
“I think we were super locked in defensively as a team, communicating a lot,” Brink said. “I think we’re getting more connected on that end.”
Akoa Makani, a 2025 WNBA All-Rookie Team selection from Cameroon who has played professionally in France, scored seven points off the bench and helped the Sparks close out the win with her clutch defensive play.
Brink said the newest Spark has already made an immediate impact.
“A lot of leadership,” Brink continued. “Wisdom. (Monique) has really great energy. She’s a great teammate already, so we’re super happy to have her.”
The Sparks will host the Golden State Valkyries on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena and Phoenix on Tuesday at the Galen Center before a three-game road trip against the New York Liberty on Thursday, Washington Mystics on Aug. 15 and the Connecticut Sun on Aug. 18.
Golden State has won 12 of its last 14 games, including a three-game win streak via a dominant 95-76 win at Dallas on Friday night. Guard Veronica Burton scored a game-high 22 points. All-Star forward Gabby Williams scored 19 points. Forward Kayla Thornton added a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
The Sparks are 1-4 against Golden State all time, with its lone victory coming 84-67 on May 16, 2025, which was the then-expansion team’s inuagural game. Since then, Los Angeles has lost the last four games by an average margin of 12.5 points, including a 78-58 defeat on June 15.
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GOLDEN STATE (22-9) AT SPARKS (12-18)
When: 4 p.m. Sunday
Where: Crypto.com Arena
TV: ESPN