The Los Angeles Sparks started the 2024 WNBA season with a 92-81 loss against the Atlanta Dream. It was technically the Sparks home opener but due to maintenance, the Sparks are playing their first two home games away from Crypto.com Arena and at the Walter Pyramid at Cal State Long Beach. It doesn't get much easier for the Sparks as they take to the road for a clash against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces. The Sparks are going to be without backup wing Rae Burrell due to a non-Covid illness.

The Sparks are already without Azurá Stevens who has been sidelined throughout training camp due to an arm injury she sustained while playing in China during the WNBA offseason.

Rae Burrell is in her third season with the Sparks after being drafted by the team with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft. She did not make the Sparks final regular season roster ahead of the 2023 season, but due to various injuries and absences, the Sparks ended up bringing her back on a hardship contract.

The Sparks re-signed Burrell in the offseason to a two-year protected contract. In the Sparks season opener against the Dream, Burrell came off the bench and played only three minutes. She finished with a blank stat line, missing the only shot she took.

Last season, Burrell appeared in 29 games for the Sparks including three starts at a little over 11 minutes per game. She averaged 3.6 points per game and 1.2 rebounds with splits of 38.7 percent shooting from the field, 39 percent shooting from the three point line and 81 percent shooting from the free throw line. Her best game of the season came against the New York Liberty in the second to last game of the year when she dropped 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field and 4-0f-6 shooting from three point range.

The Sparks could be a surprise team this season

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Despite the Sparks heading into a rebuild following the departure of franchise cornerstone Nneka Ogwumike, they could be a surprising and entertaining team for the 2024 season. The Sparks drafted a pair of talented rookies in the lottery in Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson.

Both players showed flashes of solid potential during the loss to the Dream. The Sparks will hope they can replicate that against the Aces. Brink ended up in foul trouble but showed an ability to space the floor with three point shooting as well as being able to be a defensive anchor in the paint. Jackson looked semi-comfortable with the ball in her hands and looking for her shot.

The Sparks also got strong performances from Dearica Hamby, Layshia Clarendon and Kia Nurse. Hamby looked like she could be back to her All-Star form that she had during her time with the Aces. Clarendon had their first career triple double with 11 points, ten rebounds and ten assists. Nurse was the sharpshooter finishing with a team-high 23 points on 5-of-11 shooting from three point range. The growing pains are definitely going to present throughout this season, but this team is going to be competitive.