Former head coach Curt Miller and the Sparks parted methods after two, injury-ridden seasons.
Magic Johnson, a part of the franchise’s six-person possession group, promised elevated consideration to assist convey Los Angeles again to championship stage after ending the 12 months final season with an 8-32 document — the worst within the league.
The Sparks, holding the very best odds within the 2025 WNBA draft lottery with a 44.2% likelihood of choosing first after ending 25-55 throughout the final two seasons, will draft second general in April.
The Dallas Wings, who held a 22.7% likelihood of touchdown the No. 1 choose, jumped the Sparks and can choose first. The Chicago Sky will draft third, whereas the Washington Mystics will choose fourth.
The Sparks aren’t any stranger to the No. 2 choose.
Los Angeles chosen Stanford ahead Cameron Brink because the second choice within the 2024 WNBA draft. The 6-foot-4 star put up supplied the staff size in her 15 begins, averaging 7.5 factors and 5.3 rebounds per recreation earlier than struggling a season-ending torn ACL.
The Sparks, who final gained a WNBA title in 2016, will need to shift away from scouting potential No. 1 choose Paige Bueckers — the Connecticut star guard — and focus their consideration on different choices.
These different choices, nonetheless, might maintain native expertise in Los Angeles.
USC graduate ahead Kiki Iriafen — Brink’s former teammate at Stanford — is presently projected by ESPN because the possible second choose. Iriafen, a former Harvard-Westlake Excessive star, is averaging 17.3 factors and seven.5 rebounds per recreation whereas enjoying alongside JuJu Watkins.
UCLA’s Lauren Betts — who holds a minimum of one additional 12 months of faculty eligibility — and Janiah Barker, are additionally draft-eligible ought to the Sparks go for the native connection.
Different prospects possible out there at second general embrace Connecticut guard Azzi Fudd, Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles and Louisiana State ahead Aneesah Morrow.
The second choose will probably be a part of a roster that features a wholesome Brink, Jackson and Dearica Hamby, the main scorer final season.
Earlier than the draft order was revealed on ESPN, Jackson spoke about how she adjusted to the WNBA in her first 12 months on the staff.
“I was so grateful to have the coaches and the teammates that I had,” Jackson stated. “They continued to push me. They stayed on me. But I was a rookie … [Cameron Brink] and I — unfortunately, she went down — but just having that support system that I had, to keep pushing each and every day, it meant a lot.”
Miller, who joined the No. 1 overall-selecting Dallas Wings as their normal supervisor and government vice chairman of basketball operations, will get free reign on his first draft within the Lone Star State.
Los Angeles, then again, continues to be coachless, trying to find who will lead the franchise into its new period and have a say on the draft.
