Sparks Players Grades: A winless week

It was a tough week for the Los Angeles Sparks as they failed to earn any victories on the road. Let’s grade their performances over that span.

The Los Angeles Sparks had a rough week, going winless on the road.

There were a few standout performances, but this week was more of a realization of how far this team has to go instead of a sign that they are heading in the right direction.

So, let's grade this week's performances. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A "B" grade represents the average performance for that player.

Dearica Hamby

36.5 minutes, 14 points, 10 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.3 blocks, 17-43 FG, 3-10 3PT, 5-7 FT, -22

Hamby is as constant as they come on this team and this week was no exception.

She averaged another double-double, received a contract extension through 2025 and is essentially a shoo-in to become an All-Star for the third time in her career.

In the win-loss department, there won't be much to celebrate for the Sparks, but locking her in along with the younger Sparks means 2025 could be brighter in all aspects compared to 2024.

Grade: A

Rickea Jackson

26.7 minutes, 12.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.7 steals, 14-31 FG, 1-5 3PT, 9-11 FT, -25

It was probably the best week of Jackson's young career. The more time she's given, the more productive she becomes.

She scored her highest point total, 19, against the Minnesota Lynx and had an extremely efficient night versus the Atlanta Dream, scoring 16 points on 7-13 shooting.

Jackson has already surpassed most people's expectations of her during her rookie season, so it's exciting to see just how far she will progress this year.

Grade: A

Cameron Brink

20.2 minutes, 7.7 points, 5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 blocks, 1.7 steals, 1.3 blocks, 8-26 FG, 2-6 3PT, 5-5 FT, -32

Brink couldn't convert on her shots, struggled with her fouls and was less effective defensively during the first three games of this road trip.

This is the second week that Brink has played below her level; perhaps there is some fatigue going on, given the quick turnaround from college to the pros. Hopefully, she will bounce back this week.

Grade: C+

Li Yueru

17.7 minutes, 8.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.3 blocks, 8-16 FG, 0-1 3PT, 9-9 FT, -4

Slowly but surely, Yueru is developing into a solid rotation player. She's getting increasingly more comfortable playing through contact, finishing strong near the rim and went a perfect 9-9 from the charity stripe.

If she can be another big the Sparks can rely on, it will give the team some much-needed depth at that position.

Grade: A

Lexie Brown

23.8 minutes, 7.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.3 blocks 7-26 FG, 4-16 3PT, 4-4 FT, -22

Brown is coming off the bench and playing big minutes but has yet to have an explosive offensive showing. Her 3-point shot isn't falling and if she's unable to convert on that shot and stretch the defensive, her impact becomes limited.

We'll see if she can return to the form she had for moments in 2023 or if this is the kind of production we can expect for Brown the rest of the way.

Grade: C

Aari McDonald

28.5 minutes, 14.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, 5 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.3 blocks, 14-27 FG, 6-13 3PT, 9-11 FT, -27

McDonald is now the best backup guard on the roster. She's in her best form of the season, consistently scoring in the mid-teens over the last four games.

It took her some time, but she's getting comfortable with Curt Miller's system and is blossoming now.

Grade: B+

Kia Nurse

14 minutes, 4.3 points, 1.0 rebounds, 0.2 assists, 4-13 FG, 3-8 3PT, 2-2 FT, -10

Nurse starting at this point feels more like stubbornness by Miller than anything else. The offense is absent, the defense is mediocre and there is not much of an upside in giving her more run.

Her minutes have gone down, but a good performance from her is a rarity at this point.

Grade: C

Rae Burrell

10.9 minutes, 3.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.3 steals, 2-6 FG, 0-3 3PT, 7-9 FT, -2

Burrell only got significant run against the Seattle Storm and didn't play well, going 2-6 in her 22 minutes of play. The other two games were just short shifts and there's not much you can take away from that time.

She hasn't gotten many opportunities this season, so it's a bummer when she gets on and gives a mediocre performance.

Grade: C

Layshia Clarendon

11.5 minutes, 2.7 points, 0.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.3 steals, 3-8 FG, 0-1 3PT, 2-2 FT, -7

As this team continues to rebuild, minutes for Clarendon make less and less sense. They don't make silly mistakes and give you a solid defensive baseline, but this team struggles to put points on the boards and Clarendon is not the solution.

Grade: C-

Stephanie Talbot

9.9 minutes, 1.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.3 blocks, 0.3 steals, 2-4 FG, 0-2 3PT, -19

Just enough time to give a grade, Talbot was respectable but didn't give any performances that stood out. The amount she played feels fair, given what she provides on the floor, which is a veteran presence.

Grade: C-

Zia Cooke

No grade for Cooke; she played just one minute in three games and is not getting an opportunity right now.

Curt Miller

I want more minutes for Jackson. I don't like Clarendon starting and I would like to see Brown or McDonald begin games instead. Minus those adjustments, Miller has been fine. The team isn't winning, but their opponents are flat-out better than them, and that has to be taken into consideration.

Miller mentioned that this is his first team that hasn't overachieved, and that still rings true 14 games in. He hasn't cost this team wins, but he hasn't earned them any extra victories either.

Grade: B

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.