LOS ANGELES -- It's been real busy in the WNBA. And it is no exception for the Los Angeles Sparks.
April 2026 might be the busiest month in the league's history. After an extended negotiation about the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement, the schedule that includes free agency, the expansion draft, and the college draft have all been crunched into this short window of time.
In the expansion draft, the Sparks saw Julie Allemand and Sarah Ashlee Barker get chosen by the Tempo and the Fire, respectively.
In free agency, they made a huge trade that sent Rickea Jackson to Chicago and got back guard Ariel Atkins. Azura Stevens also went to Chicago via free agency. Former Sparks Nneka Ogwumike and Erica Wheeler, who both previously played in Seattle, decided to return to L.A. All the while, the team was able to re-sign Kelsey Plum, Dearica Hamby, Rae Burrell, Emma Cannon, and Julie Vanloo (training camp deal).
As for the college draft, the Sparks were able to somehow obtain Ta'niya Latson from South Carolina in the second round. They also picked Chance Gray in that same second round and Amelia Hassett in the third round.
Both General Manager Raegan Pebley, coach Lynne Roberts, and the new/returning Sparks players talked about the month at large.
Latson was chosen by the Sparks with the 20th overall pick, which was a huge surprise to everyone.
“I love a good scoring guard,” Coach Roberts mused last week after the draft.
“Our draft model and everything had her a lot higher than 20 and so we were excited that she was still there,” Roberts continued. “She can shoot it, she can get to the basket, she's great in transition, and then I think something that you know we really needed and we're excited about is just her defense, her point of attack defense. She's really good on ball but she's a winner and we're just excited. It's hard as a rookie, especially at that point guard/two spot, to adapt but I'm expecting her to be a great addition to our squad.”
“I think I can bring just my defensive tenacity,” Latson said on Monday about what she could bring to the team. “I feel like I grew in defense last year. That was something I really wanted to work on going into South Carolina. I feel like I'm a better two-way guard now.”
Apr 13, 2026; New York, NY, USA; WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Ta'Niya Latson who was selected twentieth overall by the Los Angeles Sparks during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards.
Latson mentioned that she grew up watching Nneka Ogwumike. Ogwumike talked about the rookie in her individual presser on Monday.
“I absolutely love her,” Ogwumike said. “I think she's the biggest steal (in the draft) this year. And you can tell that she's somebody who is locked in. She's someone who does not like to lose.
And she's quite mature for her age. She has a level of joy and commitment in how she plays and she wants to be better. So I'm very grateful to be in this L.A. Sparks team with her.”
Chance Gray, the 24th overall pick, wasn’t even watching the draft when her name was called.
“Yeah, I have really bad anxiety,” Gray confessed. “So I didn't want to watch the draft because I really didn't know where it was going to happen. And I was literally in the gym getting shots up, and as I was leaving the gym, I just saw my name pop up at 24. So it's kind of crazy.”
Amelia Hassett was chosen at 35. With her three-point shooting, she said the Sparks offense is the right fit for her.
It was not a popular trade made by the Sparks. Fan favorite and young rising star Rickea Jackson was sent to the Chicago Sky for two-way guard Ariel Atkins. But both coach and GM like what they see with Atkins.
“I'm excited about her,” Coach Roberts said. “And people don't talk about her as much. So it's almost like she flies under the radar just because she's not that present (in) social media, whatever. But she was an Olympian. She's won a championship. She is legit and couldn't be more happy to have her.”
General Manager Pebley rattled off some stats about Atkins. “When she's on the floor, her teams are +11. I mean, that's a career stat, not just a last couple of years stat. She's top 10 in catch and shoot threes in the last three seasons. Number three in points or opponent points per direct drive. You can go down the list of all the things with her. Also really good at defending off ball screens. I think she was a number two defender in off ball screens the last few years.