Sparks Got Some Strong Assets For Kelsey Plum As They Start Another Rebuild

The Sparks are starting over again.

After trading All-Star defender Kelsey Plum to Phoenix up of Sunday’s WNBA waste and acquisition deadline, nan Sparks are backmost to nan drafting committee specified months aft declaring themselves a contender this season. In adding defender Monique Akoa Makani and first and 2nd information picks successful nan 2027 draft, nan Sparks person a instauration to commencement building connected young talent.

People pinch knowledge of Plum’s reasoning confirmed to nan The Times past week that she didn’t intend to re-sign pinch nan Sparks successful nan offseason, forcing them to move connected from her expiring statement and get arsenic overmuch worth arsenic imaginable to build from nan crushed up — again.

It’s nary astonishment nan Sparks decided to rustle it up 2 weeks aft firing wide head Raegan Pebley, who had told The Times that she intended to support nan Sparks successful contention done nan waste and acquisition deadline.

The Mercury’s Monique Akoa Makani handles nan shot successful beforehand of nan Liberty’s Pauline Astier astatine Mortgage Matchup Center connected Saturday successful Phoenix.

(Christian Petersen / Getty Images)

The return nan Sparks sewage for Plum connected an expiring statement is arsenic bully arsenic they could person hoped for — a starting value subordinate and a first-round prime that mightiness extremity up a lottery prime if nan Mercury don’t make nan playoffs

The Sparks traded nan No. 2 prime successful nan 2025 draught to Seattle, who turned that action into All-Star halfway Dominique Malonga, to acquire Plum successful nan 2025 offseason to effort to extremity their rebuild. They vanished 2 games extracurricular nan postseason past play and person struggled this twelvemonth pinch Plum’s wounded and a league-worst defense.

How soon nan Sparks tin effort to contend again mightiness dangle connected this year. If they get a precocious capable draught prime to return JuJu Watkins should she take to time off USC, they tin build astir her. If not, they are backmost successful nan aforesaid spot arsenic 2025 erstwhile they sewage nan 2nd wide prime and missed retired connected nan Paige Bueckers sweepstakes.

Watkins whitethorn take to enactment astatine USC different season, which would springiness nan Sparks a 2nd chance astatine her successful nan lottery if they aren’t backmost connected their feet yet.

Since nan Sparks will each but surely miss nan playoffs this season, they will person 2 lottery picks this season, giving them a chance to adhd immoderate rookie-scale contracts to a roster filled pinch seasoned deals. They person 2 players successful Dearica Hamby and Ariel Atkins who are owed much than $1 cardinal per play complete nan adjacent 2 years, and Erica Wheeler is connected nan books for $625,000 adjacent season.

They person young halfway Cameron Brink, nan No. 2 wide prime successful 2024, to build around. Despite rumors earlier this season, nan Sparks decided not to waste and acquisition Brink and are alternatively building around. Pending restricted free supplier Rae Burrell has had her champion play successful nan WNBA this year, and if nan Sparks don’t move connected from her, she tin beryllium different cardinal portion successful nan adjacent type of nan team.

Those 2 and erstwhile No. 4 prime Rickea Jackson were expected to beryllium a portion of nan adjacent activity for nan Sparks, but they traded Jackson to Chicago for Atkins this offseason successful what now appears to beryllium an ill-conceived effort astatine winning this year.

Akoa Makani will besides slot successful arsenic a starter correct distant for nan Sparks astatine 24 years old. Last play pinch a Phoenix squad that made it to nan WNBA Finals, she started 11 games. She is besides nether squad power until 2027 erstwhile she will go a reserved free agent.

Sparks guardant Cameron Brink is pressured by Fever defender Lexie Hull connected May 13 astatine Crypto.com Arena.

(Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)

Akoa Makani will beryllium 1 of nan amended defenders connected nan Sparks roster and is simply a profession 41% three-point shooter. In her 16 games this season, she is averaging 9.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 steals.

Phoenix’s first-round 2027 draught prime nan Sparks acquired will astir apt beryllium nan seventh overall, pinch a mini chance astatine being first aliases 2nd owed to nan WNBA’s two-year lottery likelihood format. Seventh picks successful caller years person included Angel Reese, Aneesah Morrow and Veronica Burton.

The Sparks will beryllium projected to prime astir sixth without immoderate utmost lottery luck, but moreover those 2 picks will make a large quality for a squad pinch conscionable 1 lottery prime (Brink) from nan past six years of rebuilding.

Aside from Watkins astatine nan apical of nan draft, LSU defender MiLaysia Fulwiley, South Carolina guardant Ashlyn Watkins, Kentucky halfway Clara Strack and LSU defender Mikaylah Williams will beryllium viable young players.

With Plum disconnected nan books and expiring contracts for Nneka Ogwumike and Emma Cannon adjacent season, nan Sparks will person headdress room to activity pinch moreover pinch nan hefty contracts astatine nan apical of their cap.

If they create a halfway of young players astir Brink, Burrell and Akoa Makani, they will person different chance to get a rebuild right.