Sparks Roster Takes Shape With Kelsey Plum, Erica Wheeler And Others Locked In

The 2026 Sparks roster is coming together arsenic nan squad prepares for Monday’s draft.

After signing Nneka Ogwumike for her 2nd stint pinch nan squad that drafted her, nan Sparks officially sent 2024 first-round prime Rickea Jackson to Chicago for defender Ariel Atkins successful a consecutive subordinate trade.

They kept Kelsey Plum astir astatine a discounted rate, re-signed Dearica Hamby for 3 years and added Erica Wheeler into nan operation connected a two-year woody worthy $625,000 per season.

With Cameron Brink still playing nether her rookie contract, nan Sparks now person a defined core.

After Rae Burrell’s champion WNBA run past play and a breakout play this wintertime pinch Unrivaled, she projects arsenic a starter astatine mini guardant and Wheeler is an fantabulous action to travel successful arsenic a ballhandler alongside Plum aliases Atkins.

Hamby, who signed for astir $3.5 cardinal for those 3 years, could commencement complete Brink, who is entering her 3rd WNBA season.

“Dearica has developed into 1 of nan astir businesslike and impactful players successful nan league,” Sparks wide head Raegan Pebley said successful connection announcing her re-signing. “She is simply a competitor who sets nan reside for winning each night, and her activity and consistency elevate everyone astir her.”

Atkins is an elite perimeter defender and a decent three-point shooter who tin thrust discourtesy alongside Plum. She tin abstraction nan level and averaged 36.2% from heavy successful her career, and will create room for Ogwumike, Brink and Hamby successful nan post.

Plum signed a one-year woody for $999,999, beneath nan $1.4-million supermax she would person been eligible for arsenic a halfway designated player. But taking little allows nan Sparks much elasticity to build a contending team, and they’ve already made bully connected that by bringing successful Ogwumike and Wheeler arsenic free agents.

Plum averaged 19.5 points and a career-high 5.7 assists, and her 25.4% usage complaint was higher than each but 1 of her years pinch Vegas, per Basketball Reference. It appears they will spell pinch her arsenic their superior constituent guard, but nan 36-year-old Wheeler, successful her 2nd stint pinch nan Sparks, could return immoderate of that unit disconnected of her successful immoderate sets.

“Kelsey brings a uncommon operation of competitiveness, accomplishment and activity that elevates everyone astir her,” Pebley said while announcing her re-signing. “Her regular modular and mentation group nan reside for our team, and she consistently impacts winning done nan measurement she useful and competes.”

The Sparks besides announced nan re-signing of guardant Emma Cannon, who first signed pinch nan squad successful February 2025. She played successful 21 games past season, averaging 4.4 points and 1.8 rebounds while shooting 50.8% wide and 38.9% from beyond nan arc.

The squad mislaid Julie Allemand to Toronto successful description , creating room successful nan backcourt but a circumstantial request for a facilitator. Plum, Wheeler and Atkins are locked in, but nan squad could usage 1 much subordinate to bolster nan group. Sparks defender Julie Vanloo could measurement into nan role, but nan squad besides has a 2nd information prime successful a heavy collegiate draught connected Monday to thief information retired nan roster.

The Sparks missed nan playoffs by 2 games past season, pinch Brink missing nan first half arsenic she recovered from an ACL tear. Featuring Brink coming disconnected nan chair aliases successful a rotation pinch Hamby and Ogwumike gives nan Sparks 1 of nan deepest station rotations successful nan league, moreover without Jackson and Azura Stevens, who signed a three-year woody pinch Chicago.