Sparks roster takes shape with Kelsey Plum, Erica Wheeler and others locked in

The Sparks' Kelsey Plum drives to the basket under pressure from the Storm's Erica Wheeler last season. Plum and Wheeler are now teammates. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images) The 2026 Sparks roster is coming together as the team prepares for Monday's draft.

After signing Nneka Ogwumike for her second stint with the team that drafted her, the Sparks officially sent 2024 first-round pick Rickea Jackson to Chicago for guard Ariel Atkins in a straight player trade. They kept Kelsey Plum around at a discounted rate, re-signed Dearica Hamby for three years and added Erica Wheeler into the mix on a two-year deal worth $625,000 per season. With Cameron Brink still playing under her rookie contract, the Sparks now have a defined core.

Read more: What Nneka Ogwumike's return means for the Sparks' playoff push After Rae Burrell’s best WNBA campaign last season and a breakout season this winter with Unrivaled, she projects as a starter at small forward and Wheeler is an excellent option to come in as a ballhandler alongside Plum or Atkins. Hamby, who signed for around $3. 5 million for those three years, could start over Brink, who is entering her third WNBA season.

“Dearica has developed into one of the most efficient and impactful players in the league,” Sparks general manager Raegan Pebley said in statement announcing her re-signing. “She is a competitor who sets the tone for winning every night, and her leadership and consistency elevate everyone around her. ” Atkins is an elite perimeter defender and a decent three-point shooter who can drive offense alongside Plum.