Los Angeles Sparks Draft Preview

Mon, Apr 13, 2015, 11:26 PM
With star Candace Parker resting at the start of the season, L.A. will rely on its depth to remain in the mix in the West.

First 3 Selections in 2014
  • No. 7 overall
  • No. 14 overall
  • No. 31 overall

 

Last 3 First Round Picks (Pick, Year)
  • Jennifer Hamson (23, 2014)
  • A’dia Mathies (10, 2013)
  • Nneka Ogwumike (1, 2012)
Overview

The Los Angeles Sparks enter the 2015 season as a veteran-laden team with a brand new head coach. Thankfully for them, that coach has seen his fair share of the Sparks over the course of his career.

Brian Agler takes control of the Sparks’ head coaching duties after spending six seasons as the head coach of the Seattle Storm, leading them to the WNBA Championship in 2010. He inherits a deep roster that is headlined by two-time WNBA MVP Candace Parker and two-time WNBA All-Star Nneka Ogwumike.

Parker will sit out the beginning of the season to allow her body to heal, and she says she plans to rejoin the team when she’s 100-percent healthy. That decision aside, the Sparks remain one of the favorites in the Western Conference due to some offseason signings that could position them as a title contender.

The team added toughness and experience with the acquisition of point guards Erin Phillips and Temeka Johnson and signed a few international talents, as well.

The depth chart for the Sparks is, well, deep, which is a good problem to have. They’ll get a chance to add to that depth even further in the upcoming WNBA Draft. The Sparks select seventh in the draft and could opt to take a player capable of playing some minutes in the post to help counter the absence of Parker, and this Draft has plenty of options in the first round that can fill this role.

Potential targets for LA could include Cal’s Reshanda Gray, Wake Forest’s Dearica Hamby, UConn’s Kiah Stokes and Duke’s Elizabeth Williams.

DRAFT HISTORY2014 (Top 3 Picks)

23. Jennifer Hamson

35. Antoninta Slaughter

N/A

2013 (Top 3 Picks)

10. A’dia Mathies

22. Brittany Chambers

34. Alina Iagupova

2012

1. Nneka Ogwumike

13. Farhiya Abdi

15. Khadijah Rushdan

2014 LEADERS

Scoring

1. Candace Parker (19.4)

2. Nneka Ogwumike (15.8)

3. Jantel Lavender (11.9)Rebounding

1. Candace Parker (7.1)

2. Nneka Ogwumike (7.1)

3. Jantel Lavender (6.3)

Assists

1. Candace Parker (4.3)

2. Kristi Tolliver (4.1)

3. Lindsey Harding (3.2)

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