Correspondent for Southern California News Group

John Davis

John W. Davis is a former staff reporter for the Long Beach Press-Telegram. He covered high school sports, UCLA men's basketball and the Los Angeles Sparks for the Southern California News Group.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 15: Kelsey Plum #10 of the Sparks reacts during the second half against the Toronto Tempo at Crypto.com Arena on May 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luiza Moraes/Getty Images)

Kelsey Plum scores 28 as Sparks fall to Brittney Sykes, Tempo

May 17, 2026 at 9:45 p.m.

Plum, Dearica Hamby and Nneka Ogwumike combine for 66 points. Sykes scores 38 and Toronto goes 39 for 42 from the free-throw line in a 106-96 win.

Sparks forward Dearica Hamby handles the ball as Las Vegas guard Chelsea Gray defends during the first half Sept. 11, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

Sparks hoping to run it back against Toronto Tempo

May 17, 2026 at 3:26 a.m.

Coming off their first win of 2026 in beating the Tempo on Friday, the Sparks host the expansion club again Sunday to cap a four-game, season-opening homestand.

Sparks guard Kelsey Plum, shown in an image from earlier this week, had 27 points and nine assists to lead the Sparks to a 99-95 victory over the Toronto Tempo on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Sparks start fast, hold on late to beat Toronto for 1st win

May 16, 2026 at 12:01 a.m.

After dropping their first two games, the Sparks get 27 points and nine assists from Kelsey Plum in a 99-95 win. They host the Tempo again Sunday to conclude a...

Sparks guard Kelsey Plum takes a shot during the second half of a game against the Indiana Fever on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)

Sparks’ Kelsey Plum remains optimistic ahead of Toronto game

May 14, 2026 at 7:01 p.m.

All-Star Kelsey Plum sees the team’s potential as the Sparks try to pick up their first victory of the season on Friday night, the first of two games in three...

Sparks guard Kelsey Plum, right, celebrates after scoring over Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) during the third quarter on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Connor Terry, Contributing Photographer)

Sparks can’t keep pace with Caitlin Clark and the Fever

May 14, 2026 at 1:14 a.m.

The Sparks get 25 points from Kelsey Plum and trim a 21-point deficit to seven with 1:23 left, but they can’t get any closer in an 87-78 defeat. Clark (24...

The Sparks’ Ariel Atkins squares up to defend Las Vegas’ Jackie Young during the first half Sunday May 10, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Luiza Moraes/Getty Images)

Nneka Ogwumike says Sparks’ defense is key against Caitlin Clark and Fever

May 12, 2026 at 8:56 p.m.

Coming off a 27-point loss to defending champion Las Vegas in their season opener, the Sparks welcome Indiana and its sharpshooting guard to Crypto.com Arena.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces protects the ball against Kelsey Plum #10 the Sparks during the first half of their game at Crypto.com Arena on May 10, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Luiza Moraes/Getty Images)

Sparks blown out by Aces in home opener

May 12, 2026 at 5:02 p.m.

Las Vegas outshoots the Sparks by a wide margin and turns a close game into a 105-78 rout with a dominant second half. The Sparks sign former Iowa guard Kate...

Nneka Ogwumike, seen before a Sparks game in 2023 before she spent two seasons with the Seattle Storm, says she isn’t focused on snapping the Sparks’ five-year playoff drought. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Sparks 2026 season preview: Nneka Ogwumike’s return hastens playoff timeline

May 9, 2026 at 12:23 p.m.

The 10-time All-Star adds veteran leadership to a team that hasn't reached the postseason since 2020 and was the worst defensive team in the WNBA last year.

The Sparks traded Rickea Jackson, left, to Chicago for Ariel Atkins, right, while Kelsey Plum, center, is back for her second season in Los Angeles. (Photos by Getty Images)

Sparks 2026 roster breakdown – who’s gone, who’s back and who’s new

May 8, 2026 at 4:50 p.m.

Kelsey Plum, Nneka Ogwumike, Dearica Hamby, Ariel Atkins and Erica Wheeler head a veteran roster. Rickea Jackson and Azurá Stevens are notable departures.

South Carolina guard Ta’niya Latson, right, poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected by 20th overall by the Sparks in the second round of the WNBA draft on Monday night in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

WNBA draft: Sparks add South Carolina’s Ta’Niya Latson among 3 picks

April 13, 2026 at 9:31 p.m.

The Sparks did not have a first-round pick but selected Latson at No. 20, a guard who they projected to go higher. They picked Ohio State guard Chance Gray at...

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