Here’s the new-look 2026 Sparks roster
This WNBA offseason was a whirlwind, that includes a prolonged negotiation over a brand new collective bargaining settlement (CBA) adopted by an enormous free company pool and a draft.
The mud has settled and the Sparks have created a roster that is constructed to win proper now.
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They’ve introduced again the greatest elements of final 12 months’s workforce, together with Kelsey Plumwho took less than the supermax to usher in high quality veterans like Nneka Ogwumike and Erica Wheeler as the franchise hopes to finish its five-year playoff drought.
LA additionally made some huge choices, like trading Rickea Jackson for Ariel Atkinswhich was controversial as a result of Jackson is a younger participant and a fan favourite.
Before common season motion begins, let’s check out the total roster, which options 13 gamers, together with a growth spot, which is new to the league this season.
Returning core
Kelsey Plum Dearica Hamby, Rae BurrellCam Brink
The coronary heart of the 2025 Sparks has returned. Plum continues to be the All-Star start line guard, who averaged 19.5 factors and 5.7 assists final 12 months.
Dearica Hamby can also be again. The huge is constantly flirting with double-doubles, averaging 18.4 factors and seven.9 rebounds final season.
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Rae Burrell is anticipated to be a starter, which is a pleasant promotion for the five-year participant who has been reserving her total profession. And whereas Cameron Brink is probably going coming off the bench with Nneka again, she is wholesome and able to display extra of the defensive upside, together with an offensive uptick.
Brink tore her ACLending her 2024 rookie season after simply 15 video games. She returned in the middle of last seasonenjoying in 19 video games. Now, she’s wholesome for the first time in years.
Family Faces
Nneka Ogwumike, Erica Wheeler
Nneka’s return is clearly the greatest change for the Sparks. She is a legendary participant who spent the first 12 seasons of her profession in LA. After two years in seattleshe is again residence.
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While she is an older participant, Nneka continues to be a power. She was an All-Star final season for the Storm, averaging 18.3 factors and 7 rebounds per sport. Ogwumike additionally made Second Team All-WNBA final 12 months, which was her eighth time making an All-WNBA workforce.
If his manufacturing stays this excessive, it raises this workforce’s ceiling.
While Ogwumike is the largest title to return, do not underestimate Erica Wheeler.
She performed with LA again in 2021 and stays a feisty defender and a succesful scorer. Last season with the Storm, she averaged 10.3 factors and 1.3 steals per sport. The expectation is that she can be a high quality backup guard, offering perimeter protection and one other choice to run the offense with the backup items.
New additions
Ariel Atkins Kate Martin
Atkins can be a participant Sparks followers can be watching with excessive expectations. She is changing Jackson’s promise with manufacturing, in order that can be the customary she’s held to. Last 12 months with Chicagoshe had a down 12 months, averaging 13.1 factors, 3.4 rebounds and three.6 assists.
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However, the Sparks consider that of their system, she will thrive and return to the All-Defense participant she was earlier in her profession.
“Ariel is a proven winner and one of the most respected two-way guards in this league,” Sparks General Manager Reagan Pebley stated in a press launch. “She’s a champion, an elite defender and someone who understands what it takes to win in big moments. Her professionalism, competitiveness and versatility make her a perfect fit for our franchise and a key piece in our pursuit of a championship.”
On a a lot smaller scale, Kate Martin was a last-minute addition to the roster previous to the season. Martin was signed to a developmental contract on the day of the workforce’s season-opener. While a fan favourite, Martin has seen minutes as a job participant throughout two seasons, averaging 6.2 factors on 32.3% capturing from the area on the Valkyries final 12 months.
Returning reservations
Emma Cannon, Sania Feagin
The Sparks additionally introduced again bench gamers from final 12 months’s workforce. Emma Cannon is a savvy veteran who does not play a lot however is an effective locker room participant and has been a WNBA skilled for 12 years.
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Sania Feagin is on the different aspect of that coin as a younger participant nonetheless looking for her place. This can be her second 12 months in the league, and final season she performed only a handful of minutes in 16 contests. Bringing her again demonstrates that the Sparks do see potential on this ahead from South Carolina.
Rookies
Ta’Niya Latson, Chance Gray, Jihyun Park, Laura Ziegler
The Sparks have a quartet of first-year gamers becoming a member of the workforce. Los Angeles drafted Ta’Niya Latson and Chance Gray and each gamers made the roster.
Latson averaged 14.1 factors and three.6 assists throughout his remaining collegiate 12 months at South Carolina and Gray averaged 14.7 factors in 35 video games for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
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Both guards can be competing for backup minutes in the backcourt.
Jihyun Park is a WNBA rookie, however she has a ton {of professional} expertise in South Korea. The 26-year-old has performed in the Women’s Korean Basketball League from 2018 via 2024. In the 2025 Asia Cup, she averaged 14.2 factors, 5.5 rebounds, and three.7 assists per sport for the Republic of Korea.
And final, however definitely not least, is Laura Ziegler, who’s signed to a developmental participant contract, which means she will solely be energetic in 24 video games, just like an NBA two-way contract. She can nonetheless take part in all coaching classes and practices in addition to journey with the workforce.
Last 12 months at Louisville, Ziegler averaged 11 factors and 6.9 rebounds per sport.
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You can observe Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
