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With the WNBA world preparing for the start of free agency next week (the player negotiation period begins on Saturday, Jan. 21, and contracts can be officially signed on Feb. 1), the Connecticut Sun decided not to wait and executed a pair of trades to start rebuilding their roster ahead of the 2023 season.
Here is the full breakdown of the two trades that were made official on Monday, Jan. 16.
Three Team Deal Sends Jonquel Jones to New York
<ul>
<li>New York Gets: Jonquel Jones (from CON) and Kayla Thornton (from DAL)</li>
<li>Connecticut Gets: Rebecca Allen, the No. 6 pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft (from NYL), and Tyasha Harris (from DAL)</li>
<li>Dallas Gets: Natasha Howard and reserved rights to Crystal Dangerfield (from NYL)</li>
</ul>
Sun-Sparks Trade Sends Jasmine Thomas to Los Angeles
<ul>
<li>Los Angeles Gets: Jasmine Thomas and the No. 10 pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft (from CON)</li>
<li>Connecticut Gets: Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Jasmine Walker, and the rights to Kianna Smith (from LAS)</li>
</ul>
The blockbuster move sends 2021 WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones to New York to team with Sabrina Ionescu and a Liberty team still with enough cap space to pursue the biggest free agent target of the year: Seattle’s Breanna Stewart.
After dealing their franchise center to the Liberty, the Sun sent starting point guard (who missed most of last season with a torn ACL) to Los Angeles, joining former Sun coach Curt Miller with the Sparks.
MVPs on the Move
Jones is only the third former MVP to be traded, joining Tina Charles (2012 MVP with Connecticut, traded to New York) and Elena Delle Donne (2015 MVP with Chicago, traded to Washington in 2017). It must be noted that all three trades came by request of the former MVP looking for a new start in their respective careers.
In total, six former MVPs have played for other teams, with the other three signing as free agents: Sheryl Swoopes (three-time MVP with Houston) and Yolanda Griffith (one-time MVP with Sacramento) signed with Seattle in 2008, and Candace Parker (two-time MVP with Los Angeles) signed with Chicago in 2021.
As we broke down in our look at this year’s top free agent targets, there are five former MVP winners that will be on the market to either re-sign with their current team or find a new home for 2023: the aforementioned Parker, Charles, and Stewart (2018 with Seattle), as well as Diana Taurasi (2009 MVP with Phoenix) and Nneka Ogwumike (2016 with Los Angeles).
What these moves mean for Connecticut
This Jonquel Jones trade brings a sense of déjà vu for Connecticut as Charles won MVP honors for the Sun in 2012, then two years later requested a trade to New York, which the Sun executed – a blockbuster deal that brought Alyssa Thomas to the Sun along with Kelsey Bone and a first-round draft pick (Elizabeth Williams was selected).
Fast forward nine years, and we see the same scenario play out for the Sun as Jones won her MVP in 2021, then requested a trade, specifically to New York, and the Sun made the move. When the Sun were faced with this scenario before, it landed them a franchise pillar in Alyssa Thomas; will they have the same luck this time around with the additions of Allen, Harris, and the player they select at No. 6 come April?
It has also been reported that with the departure of Jonquel Jones, the Sun may plan to core and sign free agent Brionna Jones – last year’s Sixth Player of the Year, who is clearly ready for a starting role. With Brionna potentially sliding into Jonquel’s starting role alongside Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner on the frontline, the biggest questions remain in the backcourt. After losing both Jasmine Thomas and Bria Hartley to season-ending knee injuries, Natisha Hiedeman assumed the starting point guard duties for the Sun, but she is a free agent, as is starting shooting guard Courtney Williams. The Sun did add Harris from the Wings in the three-team deal for Jonquel Jones to give them another guard, but the Sun could look for more backcourt depth in free agency or the draft.
With Thomas, Jones, and Miller, the Sun had an incredible run of sustained success – posting a league-best 126-66 (.656) record over the past six regular seasons. Unfortunately, there were unable to translate that into a championship, losing in the Finals in 2019 and 2022. The Sun will look to keep things going with a new head coach (Stephanie White) as well as a new starting point guard and center.
What these moves mean for New York
Simply put, the Liberty got the best player in either trade by landing Jonquel Jones, who is not only a former MVP, Sixth Player of the Year, and Most Improved Player, she is widely regarded as a top-five player in the world right now. And while it cost them three players and a draft pick to complete the deal, it is still a slam dunk win for New York.
While Jones is the key piece in this deal, don’t sleep on Kayla Thornton, bringing a defensive mentality and physicality that can help any team looking to make a deep playoff run.
Of course, adding another former MVP to the roster would vault the Liberty to championship contenders. A year ago, Breanna Stewart (an upstate New York native) met with the Liberty as a free agent before ultimately deciding to return to Seattle on a one-year deal. Stewart is the top target of not just the Liberty and Storm; every team in the league would make the moves necessary to add Stewart to their roster.
The Liberty have the cap space to sign Stewart outright. They also have a first-round pick and young players on rookie contracts to add to a potential sign-and-trade deal with the Storm if that is the route things go this summer. If Stewart decides to remain in Seattle or sign elsewhere, the Liberty can use their cap room to add another top free agent on the market.
What these moves mean for Dallas
In Howard, the Wings add a three-time WNBA champion – she won the 2017 title with Minnesota as well as the 2018 and 2020 titles with Seattle – two-time All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year. In 2022, Howard averaged 15.1 points and 7.3 rebounds, which ranked 14th and 10th in the league, respectively, for the Liberty. She is a big that runs the floor well and has the ability to defend multiple positions.
Dangerfield is a young point guard that flashed brilliance as a rookie in 2020 in Minnesota, averaging 16.2 points on 47% shooting and 3.6 assists to become the lowest-drafted player ever to win Rookie of the Year. Her scoring and shooting dropped off in her second season as she was primarily used as a reserve. She was waived by Minnesota ahead of the 2022 season before signing with Indiana for three games before joining New York for the remainder of the season. In 30 games with the Liberty, Dangerfield averaged 5.4 points and 2.5 assists in 22 minutes per game.
The Wings have some key decisions to make this offseason – they can match any offer that restricted free agents Marina Mabrey and Teaira McCowan received – and there are reports that they are on the verge of trading 2017 Rookie of the Year and six-season starter Allisha Gray before she enters the final season of her contract.
What these moves mean for Los Angeles
Jasmine Thomas was Curt Miller’s point guard in his first season in Connecticut in 2016, and she will be his point guard in his first season in Los Angeles in 2023. Of course, that is assuming a full recovery from last May’s ACL tear that limited Thomas to only five games. While the Sun made it to the WNBA Finals with Thomas sidelined, her veteran presence was missed in critical moments throughout that series and the postseason.
Thomas becomes only the third protected contract on the Sparks – joining Katie Lou Samuelson and Chennedy Carter – as the Sparks are just getting started in building out their roster for 2023. The trade to acquire Thomas cost the Sparks a number of promising young players, with Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Jasmine Walker, and the rights to Kianna Smith headed to Connecticut.
The Sparks have seven veteran unrestricted free agents that they must decide to either try to re-sign or let them go; that list is headlined by one of the five former MVPs on the market this year in Nneka Ogwumike, along with her sister Chiney, guards Kristi Toliver, Jordin Canada, Brittney Sykes, Lexie Brown, and center Amanda Zahui B.
Longtime WNBA reporter Brian Martin writes articles on WNBA.com throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.

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The Jonquel Jones Blockbuster Trade: What Do These Moves Mean?

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Connecticut Sun Acquire Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Jasmine Walker and Rights to Kianna Smith
&#8211;Trade Jasmine Thomas and 2023 First-Round Pick&#8211;
Uncasville, CT (January 16, 2023) &#8211; Today, Connecticut Sun General Manager Darius Taylor announced that the Sun has acquired Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Jasmine Walker and the rights to Kianna Smith from the Los Angeles Sparks, in exchange for Jasmine Thomas and Connecticut&#8217;s 2023 first round pick (No. 10 overall). 
The Connecticut Sun now has the 6th (via the New York Liberty), 22nd and 34th picks in the 2023 WNBA Draft.
&#8220;Jasmine Thomas&#8217;s presence on and off the court has been both a driving force and a calming presence to her teammates,&#8221; Taylor remarked. &#8220;Her leadership and toughness have gotten the Connecticut Sun franchise to incredible heights over the last 8 years. As we look toward the future, we saw moving her as an opportunity to build, while also remaining as a championship contender for years to come.&#8221;
Olivia Nelson-Ododa was drafted 19th overall in the 2022 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles (via the Dallas Wings). In her rookie season, Nelson-Ododa played in 30 games, starting six contests. The 6&#8217;5 center from Winder, GA averaged 4.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.3 steals, and 0.8 blocks in 14.5 minutes per game; ranking 6th in the league in field goal percentage at 56.0%. Prior to the WNBA, Nelson-Ododa played for the University of Connecticut Huskies, where she helped her team to three NCAA Final Fours (2019, 2021, 2022) and a National Championship game (2022). She finished her career sixth in UConn history in blocked shots with a host of accolades to her name, including 2021 BIG EAST Co-Defensive Player of the Year, 2022 All-BIG EAST First Team, 2021 All-BIG EAST Second Team, 2021 BIG EAST All-Tournament Team, and 2020 American Athletic Conference Second Team.
&#8220;Olivia is a promising young player that gives us depth and much needed length in the post,&#8221; said Taylor. &#8220;Olivia’s potential to grow as both a player and a person in our organization is limitless. We look forward to her coming back to Connecticut and joining the team.&#8221;
Jasmine Walker was drafted seventh overall in the 2021 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks (from the Chicago Sky via the Dallas Wings). As a rookie, she saw action in two games before missing the rest of the 2021 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. During her second season in the league, Walker appeared in 32 games, averaging 1.6 points and 1.5 rebounds in 8.8 minutes per game. The 6&#8217;3 forward from Montgomery, Alabama came to the WNBA from the Alabama Crimson Tide, where she helped her team to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2021. Walker left Alabama with a host of accolades, including 2021 Naismith Trophy Women&#8217;s Midseason Team, 2021 Preseason All-SEC Second Team, 2021 and 2019 SEC Academic Honor Roll, 2020 All-SEC Second Team, and 2018 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll. Prior to her time at Alabama, Walker appeared in five games for the Florida State Seminoles.
&#8220;Jasmine Walker is a versatile forward who can stretch the floor and rebound at a high level,” Taylor said. “We look forward to what she can bring to Connecticut on the court and in our community.&#8221;
Kianna Smith was drafted 16th overall in the 2022 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks (via the Washington Mystics). As a rookie, Smith saw action in 11 games, averaging 2.6 points, 0.8 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 0.4 steals in 10.2 minutes per game. The 6&#8217;0 guard from Moreno Valley, California came to the WNBA from the University of Louisville Cardinals, where she helped her team to a NCAA Elite Eight in 2021 and a Final Four in 2022. Smith was also named to the 2021 ACC All-Tournament First Team and all-ACC Academic Team as a Redshirt Junior. Prior to her time in Louisville, Smith spent her rookie and sophomore seasons playing for the California Golden Bears. In addition to being named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman team in 2018, in two seasons at Cal, she scored 600 points, made 91 3-point field goals, and dished out 244 assists, helping the Golden Bears to two 20-win seasons and two trips to the NCAA Tournament.
Due to injury, Smith is likely unable to play during the 2023 season.
&#8220;Kianna is a player that gives us depth in the backcourt for the future. Kianna’s shooting and scoring capability will be welcomed in our organization. We look forward to her recovery and return to play.&#8221; &#8211; Darius Taylor, Connecticut Sun General Manager
The Connecticut Sun tip off the 2023 season on Friday, May 19 at the Indiana Fever at 7:00PM EST.
Established in 2003, the Connecticut Sun is a professional women’s basketball team in the Woman’s National Basketball Association that takes residence at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. For more information or to purchase season tickets, visit <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.connecticutsun.com/__;!!PMETyfE!Puy-o2MQGWun2zfOxyITPVCEHgnV2pRhNXkWlSsu6yinPAjGQeGJUSa4xuKLU2eGFPxjtwzyHu0NJ_YZaw$">www.connecticutsun.com</a>.
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Connecticut Sun Acquire Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Jasmine Walker and Rights to Kianna Smith

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33 Days into the WNBA off-season, the first significant move has taken place. After coaching the Connecticut Sun to the Finals, Curt Miller has parted ways with the organization and taken the helm of the Los Angeles Sparks.
Per <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://sports.yahoo.com/sources-sparks-reach-agreement-to-hire-two-time-coach-of-year-curt-miller-from-wnba-finalist-sun-174439927.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reporting from Yahoo Sports</a>, Miller will not be the GM, which he was for the past six seasons in Connecticut, along with his duties as head coach.
“I’m ready to work alongside our owners, players, and the entire organization to help build a team that will compete for WNBA championships and make our fans and partners proud. It’s a privilege to hold this position, and I’m committed to adding to the incredible basketball legacy of this city and franchise,” said Miller via press release.
Miller got his start in the W as an assistant with the Sparks in 2015 after coming up through the college ranks as the head coach at Bowling Green and Indiana.
The Sun now joins the Indiana Fever and Dallas Wings in head coaching searches.
What does this mean for the Sparks?
First and foremost, this is not entirely surprising, although the timing certainly is. Since the media day of this past season, the Sun has openly talked about 2022 being the last go-around for this core due to forthcoming free agency and salary cap restrictions. While it wasn’t set in stone that Miller would leave, nor was the writing written on the wall, it felt like a possibility.
The Sparks have just shy of a million dollars in cap space this off-season ($996,101), according to Her Hoop Stats. Here’s some <a href="https://herhoopstats.substack.com/p/wnba-2023-free-agents-list">helpful terminology</a> for understanding the W CBA and free agency.
Katie Lou Samuelson (protected veteran) and Chennedy Carter (protected rookie scale) have guaranteed contracts in the coming season, and Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Jasmine Walker, and Rae Burrell all have unprotected contracts in the 2023 W season. Kianna Smith is a reserved free agent.
*Reserved Free Agent: (Per Her Hoop Stats) If a player’s contract has expired, but they have three or fewer years of service in the WNBA, they become “reserved.” That means that they can only negotiate with their previous team and are not allowed to discuss terms or sign with anyone else (unless released).
Nneka Ogwumike, Chiney Ogwumike, Brittney Sykes, Lexie Brown, Jordin Canada, and Kristi Tolliver are all unrestricted free agents. Amanda Zahui B’s suspended contract expires. 
To say this team could look different next year is an understatement.
It will be interesting to find out more about what the Sparks view as their organizational direction, as a clean cap sheet provides immense flexibility. We’ll find out more at his eventual introductory presser (no date set currently), but it’s more possible than consensus thought seems to be that they approach this next era of Sparks basketball as a rebuilding effort.
Especially with Carter in place as one of the more intriguing young talents in the league, don’t be shocked if that’s the direction Los Angeles opts for. An important reminder: rebuilding does not mean tanking. Atlanta was a rebuilding team this past season and nearly made the playoffs. It’s about building a more sustainable future, and frankly, the Sparks lost that during the Derek Fisher era.
Yet, without owning their own first-round pick in the coming draft, the Sparks really need to succeed in free agency to rework their roster. 
If Nneka and Chiney were to re-sign, there’s an immense amount of room for the incoming front office to work with to calibrate a more successful core. Their off-season is remarkably intriguing, and I can’t wait to gain more insight into how they plan to approach.
Regardless of direction, this is an enticing step for the franchise. Miller is a very good coach. He loves the teaching, learning, and development of talent. While we don’t know what the roster will look like, Miller will undoubtedly stamp his “pillars” of preparation in Los Angeles.
What does this mean for the Sun?
Jen Rizzotti, the team president of the Sun, put out a <a href="https://twitter.com/CTSunPR/status/1583538098989768704/photo/1">statement via Sun Public Relations</a> this afternoon.
She thanked Miller for his time and dedication to the organization, stated that she and Miller have had multiple conversations about the future over the past few weeks, and made it apparent that this is an amicable departure.
“As I look to our future, I know we have all the pieces in place to be a championship contender again next year; we look forward to finding the right person to lead our team,” closes Rizzotti.
Jonquel Jones, DeWanna Bonner, Jasmine Thomas, and Alyssa Thomas are all on protected veteran contracts this coming season, with Alyssa being the only one signed through 2024.
Nia Clouden and Dijonai Carrington are both on unprotected contracts in 2023, and Joyner Holmes is a reserved free agent.
Natisha Hiedeman is a restricted free agent this off-season. Both Brionna Jones and Courtney Williams are unrestricted free agents.
While the Sun has ~$436k to work with in free agency, retooling this roster to balance it out will be a tall task for whoever takes over as GM. There’s immense talent on the Sun, but finding the personnel to reinvent their style of play slightly seems imperative. The Sun finished 11th in points generated from beyond the arc in 2022, 8th in 2021, and 10th in 2020. Three-point shooting isn’t everything, but it is stark how much the Sun has lacked adequate shooting. Losing Jasmine Thomas early in the season was a significant hit to their spacing and guard play, but not the only factor.
Reigning Sixth Woman of the Year and multi-time All-Star Bri Jones is due for a substantial pay raise. She’s simply too good to come off the bench for another season and is one of the most sought-after free agents this off-season.
I’m really interested to see how Connecticut handles this. This team just made the Finals, their second in four years, and this core is of that standard and ilk. Their overall success should not be lost in parsing through what’s next. It is really darn hard to win a championship. But, it’s all but written in stone that we’re going to see some departures from this group as they look to reroute and find a new path forward to their pursuit of a title.
With the Sun job opening up, it’s fascinating to contemplate the impact on league coaching searches. This job undoubtedly comes with different expectations and a different timeline than what should be expected in Indiana and Dallas. 
The WNBA off-season has finally started, and it started raucously.
WNBA reporter Mark Schindler writes a column on <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="http://wnba.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WNBA.com</a> throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter at @MG_Schindler. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.

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Curt Comes to LA: What it Means for Both Miller and the Sparks

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				<a href='https://www-qa.nba.com/photo_gallery/photos-of-the-night-may-31st/phoenix-mercury-v-chicago-sky-42/'><img decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/06/GettyImages-1241023702-1-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" loading="lazy" aria-describedby="gallery-110-155699" /></a>
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				CHICAGO, IL &#8211; MAY 31: Azurá Stevens #30 of the Chicago Sky arrives at the arena before the game against the Phoenix Mercury on May 31, 2022 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois.
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				<a href='https://www-qa.nba.com/photo_gallery/photos-of-the-night-may-31st/phoenix-mercury-v-chicago-sky-43/'><img decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/06/GettyImages-1241024636-1-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" loading="lazy" aria-describedby="gallery-110-155700" /></a>
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				CHICAGO, IL &#8211; MAY 31: Kahleah Copper #2 of the Chicago Sky shoots the ball during the game against the Phoenix Mercury on May 31, 2022 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois.
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				<a href='https://www-qa.nba.com/photo_gallery/photos-of-the-night-may-31st/connecticut-sky-v-las-vegas-aces-16/'><img decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/06/GettyImages-1400363114-2-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" loading="lazy" aria-describedby="gallery-110-155702" /></a>
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				LAS VEGAS, NEVADA &#8211; MAY 31: Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (L) talks with Kelsey Plum #10 of the Las Vegas Aces during halftime of the Aces&#8217; game against the Connecticut Sun at Michelob ULTRA Arena on May 31, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces defeated the Sun 89-81.
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				<a href='https://www-qa.nba.com/photo_gallery/photos-of-the-night-may-31st/dallas-wings-v-los-angeles-sparks-48/'><img decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/06/GettyImages-1241026398-1-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" loading="lazy" aria-describedby="gallery-110-155703" /></a>
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				LOS ANGELES, CA &#8211; MAY 31: Isabelle Harrison #20 of the Dallas Wings drives to the basket during the game against the Los Angeles Sparks on May 31, 2022 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
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				<a href='https://www-qa.nba.com/photo_gallery/photos-of-the-night-may-31st/dallas-wings-v-los-angeles-sparks-49/'><img decoding="async" width="150" height="150" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2022/06/GettyImages-1241026408-1-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" loading="lazy" aria-describedby="gallery-110-155704" /></a>
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				LOS ANGELES, CA &#8211; MAY 31: Kevin Durant attends the game between Los Angeles Sparks and Dallas Wings on May 31, 2022 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
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photos-of-the-night-may-31st

Photos of the Night (May 31st)

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From one historic season to another, the WNBA’s 25th season is set to tip-off on May 14th. The league will commemorate the 25th season with a campaign, “Count It” and a distinguishing and purposeful 25th season logo. The WNBA will also celebrate the ways its players have shattered expectations and have stood at the forefront of advancement, inclusion, and social change for 25 years.
In the lead up to the season, WNBA.com will break down each team in the league. Next up: the Los Angeles Sparks.
It is a new era for the Los Angeles Sparks. Candace Parker &#8211; a two-time MVP and the face of the franchise for the past 13 years &#8211; is now in Chicago. Chelsea Gray &#8211; a three-time All-Star &#8220;point gawd&#8221; is now in Las Vegas, along with key reserve Riquna Williams. That is three of the team&#8217;s top four scorers from the 2020 season now out of L.A. Then on Thursday, on the eve of L.A.&#8217;s season opener, four-time WNBA champion Seimone Augustus announced her retirement and new role as an assistant coach with the Sparks.
While the Sparks said farewell to those four players, they also welcome back a pair of All-Stars that did not participate in the 2020 &#8220;Wubble&#8221; season: Chiney Ogwumike and Kristi Toliver. Ogwumike joined the Sparks in 2019 and is ready to start season two alongside her sister Nneka; Toliver is starting her second stint with the Sparks &#8211; she was with the team from 2010 through their championship run in 2016 before moving to Washington and helping the Mystics win their first title in 2019.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
𝙍𝙐𝙉𝙉𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙄𝙏 🔙<a href="https://twitter.com/KristiToliver?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KristiToliver</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/nnekaogwumike?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nnekaogwumike</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RootedinLA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RootedinLA</a> <a href="https://t.co/pPWOSXBqBb">pic.twitter.com/pPWOSXBqBb</a>
&mdash; Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) <a href="https://twitter.com/LASparks/status/1390350902054195202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Along with the returning players from 2020 &#8211; led by 2016 league MVP Nneka Ogwumike and and All-Defensive guard Brittney Sykes &#8211; the Sparks also have some new faces to add into the mix, which we&#8217;ll get to shortly. Overall, there has been plenty of roster turnover from last season, and it may take some time for head coach Derek Fisher (entering his third season) and the players to find their way.
<h3>2020 Season Recap</h3>
<ul>
<li>15-7, 3rd Place in League</li>
<li>Eliminated in the second round of playoffs by Connecticut</li>
</ul>
<h3>Offseason Moves</h3>
In addition to getting Chiney and Toliver back for 2021, the Sparks also added players through free agency and the draft to round out the roster. The Sparks signed veterans Erica Wheeler (2019 All-Star MVP), Amanda Zahui B (former No. 2 overall pick), as well as Nia Coffey and Bria Holmes (former first round picks) in free agency.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙁𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙨 🌴<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RootedInLA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RootedInLA</a> <a href="https://t.co/NPz9ln16Eu">pic.twitter.com/NPz9ln16Eu</a>
&mdash; Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) <a href="https://twitter.com/LASparks/status/1390365777673408517?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The Sparks also added a a pair of promising rookies in power forward Jasmine Walker and guard Arella Guirantes, who somehow fell to No. 22 after being projected as a potential lottery pick.
The Sparks also made a move for the future in acquiring forward Gabby Williams in a trade with the Chicago Sky for the rights to a pair of draft picks (Stephanie Watts, No. 10 in 2021; Leonie Fiebich, No. 22 in 2020). Williams is on the suspended list for 2021 as she trains with the French National Team for the upcoming Olympics, but the former No. 4 overall pick adds more talent to the squad in years to come.
<h3>One Big Question Heading Into 2021</h3>
How long will it take for this team to find chemistry?
Between the players returning from 2020, the players returning who missed 2020, the free agents signed and the rookies drafted, the Sparks have plenty of talent on their roster. But anytime a team loses so many key players (Parker, Gray, Willams and Augustus accounted for 52.3% of L.A.&#8217;s points and 47.7% of minutes played), it&#8217;s going to take some time to find the right combinations, lineups, and strategies to maximize the new roster and make up for that missing production.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Runnin’ it 🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RootedinLA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RootedinLA</a> <a href="https://t.co/TP1tuJ78Cy">pic.twitter.com/TP1tuJ78Cy</a>
&mdash; Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) <a href="https://twitter.com/LASparks/status/1391133677514477572?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Having a healthy Nneka Ogwumike will also go a long ways towards those efforts. Nneka averages career lows in scoring (13.3 PPG), rebounds (4.8 RPG), steals (1.1 SPG) and blocks (0.2 BPG) in 2020 as she was limited to 18 games while dealing with back issues and migraines throughout the season. As she outlined in her Player&#8217;s Tribune article (<a href="https://www.theplayerstribune.com/posts/hindsight-in-2020-nneka-ogwumike">Hindsight in 2020</a>), last year was especially tough for Nneka as she had to balance her responsibilities as a player and president of the WNBPA. What will a rejuvenated and motivated Nneka Ogwumike look like in 2021?
<h3>WNBA Draft Ranking</h3>
Following the 2021 WNBA Draft, Michelle Smith <a href="https://www.wnba.com/news/inside-the-w-with-michelle-smith-post-draft-rankings/">ranked every team’s draft decisions</a>. She rated the Sparks 4th out of the 12 WNBA teams.
&#8220;The Sparks made a trade to get the No. 7 pick and then took power forward Jasmine Walker from Alabama to fill a position of need (size and scoring from the wing) and then turned out to be the beneficiary of a surprising fall for Rutgers guard Arella Guirantes, who they were able to grab at No. 22. Guirantes, projected to be a top five pick, is going to be a player with a lot to prove. It will be interesting to see how that plays out in training camp.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
A 𝐁𝐈𝐆 night for Big Forty 💪
Jasmine Walker is your Player of the Game! <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealJuice40?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheRealJuice40</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RootedInLA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RootedInLA</a> <a href="https://t.co/XJnFsQA7A8">pic.twitter.com/XJnFsQA7A8</a>
&mdash; Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) <a href="https://twitter.com/LASparks/status/1391441647485939714?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<h3>Where to Watch</h3>
The Sparks open the 2021 season hosting the Dallas Wings on Friday, May 14 at 10:30 p.m. ET on Facebook.

2021-wnba-team-preview-los-angeles-sparks

2021 WNBA Team Preview: Los Angeles Sparks

Latest

Jasmine Walker

Jasmine Walker (born February 03, 1998) is a forward for the Los Angeles Sparks. She played college basketball at Alabama.
2021 Season:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Drafted No. 7 overall from the University of Alabama </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Walker appeared in two games, missing the rest of the 2021 season with a torn ACL</li>
</ul>