The Sparks entered the offseason in search of a new identity after finishing with the WNBA’s worst record. The silver lining? A shot at landing their point guard of the future in the Paige Bueckers sweepstakes.
Instead, after losing out on the No. 1 pick in the draft lottery, the Sparks set the stage for a new era of basketball in L.A. when they sent their No. 2 selection to Seattle as part of a three-team trade to acquire All-Star Kelsey Plum from Las Vegas.
All that remained was rounding out the new-look roster.
With backcourt help a priority for the Sparks in the draft, they selected Sarah Ashlee Barker at No. 9.
Barker, considered one of the top shooting guards in the country last season, earned back-to-back All-SEC first-team honors and led Alabama to a second-round NCAA tournament appearance. The 23-year-old shooting guard proved to be an all-around threat, averaging 18.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. She also set the program’s single-game scoring record with 45 points in the second-round loss to Maryland.
The move adds depth to the backcourt, with Barker potentially set to complement Plum, who is expected to take on more point guard duties while helping the rookie develop at shooting guard — Plum’s primary position for most of her career.
The Sparks used their second-round pick to select South Carolina’s Sania Feagin at No. 21.
The 6-foot-3 forward strengthens the frontcourt rotation, providing much-needed depth as Cameron Brink recovers from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Feagin, known for her impressive wingspan, was named an All-SEC defensive selection and averaged 8.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks while playing a key role in the Gamecocks’ run to the national championship game.
With their final pick at No. 28, the Sparks selected Notre Dame forward Liatu King. A Second Team All-ACC selection last season, King started all 33 games for the Fighting Irish, averaging a double-double with 11.5 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game.