Sparks are going for it all
LA Sparks guard Kelsey Plum (10), looking to score at a WNBA basketball game against the Chicago Sky, Sunday June 29th, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. LOS ANGELES -- It's been real busy in the WNBA. And it is no exception for the Los Angeles Sparks.
April 2026 might be the busiest month in the league's history. After an extended negotiation about the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement, the schedule that includes free agency, the expansion draft, and the college draft have all been crunched into this short window of time. In the expansion draft, the Sparks saw Julie Allemand and Sarah Ashlee Barker get chosen by the Tempo and the Fire , respectively.
In free agency, they made a huge trade that sent Rickea Jackson to Chicago and got back guard Ariel Atkins . Azura Stevens also went to Chicago via free agency . Former Sparks Nneka Ogwumike and Erica Wheeler , who both previously played in Seattle, decided to return to L.
A. All the while, the team was able to re-sign Kelsey Plum , Dearica Hamby , Rae Burrell , Emma Cannon, and Julie Vanloo (training camp deal). As for the college draft, the Sparks were able to somehow obtain Ta'niya Latson from South Carolina in the second round.
They also picked Chance Gray in that same second round and Amelia Hassett in the third round . Both General Manager Raegan Pebley, coach Lynne Roberts, and the new/returning Sparks players talked about the month at large. AN UNEXPECTED SURPRISE AT THE DRAFT Latson was chosen by the Sparks with the 20th overall pick, which was a huge surprise to everyone.
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