The Sparks entered the offseason searching for a brand new id after ending with the WNBA’s worst file. The silver lining? A shot at touchdown their level guard of the long run within the Paige Bueckers sweepstakes.
As an alternative, after dropping out on the No. 1 choose within the draft lottery, the Sparks set the stage for a brand new period of basketball in L.A. once they despatched their No. 2 choice to Seattle as a part of a three-team commerce to amass All-Star Kelsey Plum from Las Vegas.
All that remained was rounding out the new-look roster.
With backcourt assist a precedence for the Sparks within the draft, they chose Sarah Ashlee Barker at No. 9.
Barker, thought-about one of many prime capturing guards within the nation final season, earned back-to-back All-SEC first-team honors and led Alabama to a second-round NCAA event look. The 23-year-old capturing guard proved to be an all-around risk, averaging 18.2 factors, 6.3 rebounds and three.9 assists per sport. She additionally set this system’s single-game scoring file with 45 factors within the second-round loss to Maryland.
The transfer provides depth to the backcourt, with Barker doubtlessly set to enhance Plum, who is anticipated to tackle extra level guard duties whereas serving to the rookie develop at capturing guard — Plum’s main place for many of her profession.
