Sparks Sign Korean Center Ha Eun-Joo

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Feb. 7 --The Los Angeles Sparks have signed free agent Ha Eun-joo, it was announced today by General Manager Penny Toler.

Ha, the 6ï¿½8ï¿½ center from Seoul, South Korea has played professionally in Japan since 2003. In 2005, with Chanson V-Magic, Ha lead her team to the Womenï¿½s League Championship. She played in the World League Tournaments and was named a member of the Japanese National Team.

ï¿½We are very happy to welcome Eun-joo to the Los Angeles Sparks team for the upcoming 2006 seasonï¿½ Toler said. ï¿½It is always exciting to have the opportunity to work and develop young talent into our winning tradition.ï¿½

Haï¿½s brother, Ha Seung-jin was selected in the 2004 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. She and her brother are the only siblings currently signed to NBA and WNBA teams. Seung-jin boasts, ï¿½I am proud of my older sister. My family and I never thought that one day we both would be in the NBA and WNBA at the same time.ï¿½

Entering the leagues 10th season, Ha will be the second Korean player ever signed to a WNBA team in its history. Ha reflects, ï¿½This is a dream come true for me and I am very excited to be a part of a great organization like the LA Sparks.ï¿½