The Sparks split a pair of Commissioner’s Cup games as they struggle to string together wins.

This past week, the Sparks won their road game against the Wings and fell to the Valkyries at home. They are now 1-2 in the Commissioner’s Cup and 3-7 on the season.

Last year, 10 games in, Los Angeles had the same record.

Whether you look at this week’s results as games half won or half lost, certain players have been standing out.

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.

Kelsey Plum

34.7 minutes, 17.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 8 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.5 blocks, 11-29 FG, 5-12 3PT, 8-8 FT, +7

This week, Plum struggled in the team’s win against Dallas, scoring just 11 points and shooting 4-9 from the field, but played great in the loss against the Valkyries, where she scored 24 points.

After L.A.’s second loss this season against the Golden State expansion team, she went on a rant for the ages about how she is being officiated.

Overall, Plum had a solid week by her standards. More was needed to win both games, but given the team’s reliance on her, it’s hard to ask for more.

Grade: B

Dearica Hamby

31.8 minutes, 20 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.5 blocks, 15-28 FG, 0-3 3PT, 10-17 FT, +7

Hamby had a strong week, scoring 20 points in both games. With her and Plum playing at a top level, they are quickly one of the best duos in the WNBA.

It feels a bit unfair to ask more from Hamby, but if she can help a bit more on the glass, that’d be a big help. In their loss to Golden State, they were dominated on the boards, 49-34. If she can contribute more in that department, perhaps some of these single-digit losses can be turned into wins.

Grade: B+

Azurá Stevens

32.1 minutes, 13.5 points, 7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.5 steals, 3 blocks, 9-18 FG, 5-11 3PT, 4-6 FT, -6

Stevens had a great game against the Wings, scoring 21 points and knocking down a career-high five 3-pointers.

However, she was a non-factor against the Valkyries, going 1-7 from the field, scoring just six points in the loss. The team needs a higher floor for her, considering the number of minutes she plays.

Grade: B-

Odyssey Sims

32.1 minutes, 12 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2 steals, 9-22 FG, 3-10 3PT, 3-5 FT, +8

Sims is another Sparks starter that’s a bit too streaky. She had 19 points in Dallas, but only managed five back in Los Angeles.

If she isn’t getting buckets, she’s not much of a positive on the team. Sims needs to maintain a consistent baseline of productivity and avoid the trend of feast or famine.

Grade: C+

Rickea Jackson

30.4 minutes, 9 points, 2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1 steal, 0.5 blocks, 8-18 FG, 0-4 3PT, 2-2 FT, -1

Jackson is back after missing games due to concussion protocols and personal reasons, but she still isn’t playing up to her typical standards.

Scoring is down, rebounds are scarce and, defensively, she’s still getting bumped and moved around. Given her time away, some grace is needed and there’s no reason to panic, but this wasn’t her week.

Grade: C-

Sarah Ashlee Barker

12.7 minutes, 5.5 points, 3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.5 steals, 4-5 FG, 1-2 3PT, 2-2 FT, -3

Barker is beginning to find her role on this team as a quality backup guard who can knock down the occasional shot. She played very well against the Valkyries, leading the bench in scoring with seven points and going a perfect 3-3 from the field.

When you also consider her defensive ability and desire to do all the little things like boxing out and closing out on shooters, the Sparks have to be pleased with the play from their rookie.

Grade: B+

Julie Allemand

16.3 minutes, 1.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1-4 FG, 1-4 3PT, +15

Allemand struggled offensively this week, and given that she’s known for her outside shooting, the Sparks need more from her during those minutes on the floor.

Her ability to distribute the ball was good, though, as she averaged three assists per game.

Grade: C

Emma Cannon

10.4 minutes, 5 points, 1 rebound, 0.5 steals, 3-6 FG, 0-2 3PT, 4-4 FT, +12

Cannon just broke the threshold for a player grade averaging 10.5 minutes per game this week. She was respectable during her shifts, providing some rest for the Sparks forwards, such as Stevens.

Grade: C

Liatu King, Mercedes Russell, Sania Feagin

All three of these players clocked in less than 10 minutes per game, so they will not be getting grades this week.

Lynne Roberts

This is another week where the Sparks lost a game in the final minutes. This time, it was in overtime at home against Golden State. At the 7:06 mark in the fourth, coach Roberts put her starters on the floor and never made another substitution until she was forced to with Plum fouling out with 16 seconds left in the contest.

The result was that the Sparks were completely gassed down the stretch and only made one field goal in overtime.

With Los Angeles having less talent than the top teams in the league, they can’t drop home games against weaker teams, especially when they were leading for most of the second half.

Roberts needs to find ways to win these close games instead of new ways to lose them.

Grade: C

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.