Breaking down the Sparks training camp battle for final roster spots

The Sparks currently have 16 players on the roster, leaving some tough choices to make to reduce it to 12 before the start of the WNBA season.

With the Sparks entering their second week of training camp, tough decisions are coming.

Currently, Los Angeles has 16 players on the team and must reduce it to at least 12 before the start of the regular season on May 16.

With so many cuts needed, here is a rundown of who is likely to be safe and what players are battling for the final spots on the team.

Players that will be on the Sparks roster

The minimum amount of players a WNBA team can carry on a roster is 11, but it’s not like the Sparks are starting from zero. They have nine non-rookies who are already on regular contracts, who are:

• Cameron Brink
• Kelsey Plum
• Rae Burrell
• Azurá Stevens
• Dearica Hamby
• Rickea Jackson
• Mercedes Russell
• Odyssey Sims
• Julie Allemand

With these nine spots taken, there are 2-3 positions for the other seven players. One of those other positions is likely also gone, as Sarah Ashlee Barker was drafted with the No. 9 pick in this year’s WNBA Draft.

While it’s not rare for a first round pick to get waived in the WNBA, so far, there are no indications that Barker won’t be on the roster.

Players fighting for a spot on the roster

That leaves 1-2 slots and six players fighting for these coveted spots.

The first batch to consider is the rookies. Liatu King, Sania Feagin and Shaneice Swain all signed rookie contracts, with Feagin and King both being selected as late draft picks by the Sparks.

If you are reading the tea leaves, L.A. must like these two players since they spent draft picks on them, but in this league, that’s far from enough to guarantee one a role. Earlier this week, the Golden State Valkyries surprised the WNBA world by waiving Shyanne Sellers, a player they drafted with the No. 17 pick.

King and Feagin would provide some forward depth, which is needed as Brink is still recovering from her ACL tear.

Swain is a guard the Sparks drafted back in 2023, but she has yet to make her WNBA debut. She has been playing overseas in Australia and averaged 17.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.

Their training camp competition includes a trio of veterans in Aari McDonald, Emma Cannon and Maria Kliundikova. McDonald is likely the player who is the fiercest competitor for a roster spot out of this group.

She played with the Sparks last year and the team brought her back for this season’s camp. McDonald wasn’t stellar coming off the bench, but she was a quality backup, averaging 8.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.

Ultimately, this decision will be a combination of need and talent acquisition. If the Sparks want upside, perhaps they take a rookie for a final spot. If Los Angeles would rather have experience, they can go with McDonald or another vet like Cannon.

The Sparks have 11 days left to make this decision and set their roster for the 2025 season.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.