Sparks news: Ariel Atkins ruled out for LA’s first game vs. Tempo

The Los Angeles Sparks have a pair of home games to close out the first week of the 2026 WNBA season, both of them against the Toronto Tempo in what will be the Sparks’ first-ever meeting against the new expansion franchise. However, the Sparks are going to be short-handed as starting shooting guard Ariel Atkins was officially ruled out on the injury report.

Ariel Atkins suffered a head injury during the Sparks’ loss to the Indiana Fever on Wednesday, and she was listed on the report as being in concussion protocol. The incident occurred in the second half when Atkins took an elbow to the face from Fever forward Monique Billings. No foul was called on the play, and Atkins was immediately subbed out and taken to the locker room.

In addition to Atkins, the Sparks will also be without second-year center Sania Feagin who is dealing with a leg injury. As part of the new CBA, WNBA teams are permitted up to two development roster spots that can be activated for games when teams get hit with injuries to the standard roster.

The Sparks currently have both developmental spots occupied with third-year guard Kate Martin and rookie forward Laura Ziegler. However, there’s no immediate word on if the Sparks plan to activate one, or both, in the wake of their current injuries. Developmental players can be active for up to 12 games each, 24 in total.

While Feagin wasn’t expected to feature prominently in the Sparks’ rotation this season, the temporary loss of Atkins leaves the team without its starting two-guard and a hole in the backcourt. Atkins is the team’s best perimeter defender, and she’s already shown that early on.

Following the season-opening loss to the Aces, Sparks star Nneka Ogwumike described the defensive energy that has been a trademark of Atkins’ career.

“She gives us some extra possessions and she’s really leading us in our efforts on defense especially in the backcourt. She does an amazing job of making our mistakes look like they didn’t happen,” Ogwumike said. “She was doing what she could to affect the defense but also ignite for us … we have to be better for her. Especially as somebody who gives so much on the defensive end, we have to meet her understanding on that end.”

While Atkins has already been making an impact defensively. Her offense has been a little slower to catch up during the first two games of the year. She’s averaging only 5.0 points while shooting 18.8 percent from the field and having missed all seven of her 3-point attempts.

But Atkins has always been a solid shooting threat, and the law of averages suggests she’ll eventually find her rhythm after she’s cleared from concussion protocol. The two-time All-Star is in her first season with the Sparks after being acquired in an offseason trade that sent Rickea Jackson to the Chicago Sky.