Rae Burrell, the Los Angeles Sparks’ fifth-year wing, isn’t just scoring, she’s absolutely owning the court, dropping double-digit points with a consistency that’s impossible to ignore. In 23 of her 39 appearances this year, Burrell has hit 13 or more points. Get this, in seven of her last eight games, she topped 13 points, with the one “down” game still being a solid 12-point outing. That incredible eight-game stretch also featured a career-high 28 points back on August 13 and an average of 19.4 points per game. We’re talking 10 games with 20-plus points and 30 double-digit scoring efforts on the season! She’s officially arrived as a star at 26 years old.
Burrell’s Scoring Explosion Shakes Up LA’s Ranks
This isn’t just a flash in the pan either. Burrell’s 14.6 points per game this season rank second on the Sparks, right behind Nneka Ogwumike. She’s even a tick ahead of Dearica Hamby, who’s a legit star and finished ninth in MVP voting last year. You gotta remember, Kelsey Plum was out with an injury past June 21 before getting traded to the Phoenix Mercury, so Burrell stepped up huge. She’s not just a scorer, she’s efficient too, shooting 37.6 percent from beyond the arc with 62 makes, and a stellar 51.7 percent on her two-point field goals. Those are some serious numbers!
A Disappointing Season Finds a Silver Lining
While Burrell is shining, the Sparks as a team have had a seriously disappointing season. They plummeted from No. 5 in ESPN’s preseason power rankings to currently tied for 10th. Honestly, no other WNBA squad has been a bigger letdown. This offseason, the Sparks tried to go all-in, bringing back 35-year-old Ogwumike, signing 34-year-old Erica Wheeler, and trading 25-year-old Rickea Jackson for 29-year-old Ariel Atkins. The message was clear: win now, get Ogwumike a second championship, and make the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Instead? They lost two first-round draft picks from 2024 and 2025 (Jackson and Sarah Ashlee Barker) and have zero to show for it.
What’s left of their recent youth movement is Cameron Brink, the No. 2 pick from 2024, and Burrell, who was a No. 9 pick in 2022. Head coach Lynne Roberts has leaned heavily on Burrell, featuring her prominently in the 2026 rotation with 31 starts compared to Brink’s one, and playing 28.9 minutes per game to Brink’s 19. Brink, with those high expectations, has still shown promise in her limited minutes, averaging 9.6 points, five boards, and 1.7 blocks per game, which is third in the WNBA. But Burrell’s the one consistently delivering right now.
Looking ahead, Burrell has stated she’s focused on keeping her improvement going next season. For a Sparks team that clearly needs a new direction, Burrell’s current form is a beacon of hope, showing that their future might just start with her.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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