The LA Sparks and head coach Lynne Roberts are already seeing the payoff from other WNBA teams passing on South Carolina guard Ta'Niya Latson—and they believe she's about to make the league take notice.

Latson, a dynamic playmaker who helped lead the Gamecocks to the NCAA Tournament, was widely projected as a first-round pick heading into the 2026 WNBA Draft. But when draft night unfolded, she surprisingly slid to the second round, where the Sparks scooped her up with the No. 20 overall pick—their first selection of the evening.

"We did not anticipate her to be on the board at No. 20, so we were thrilled with that," Roberts said via Zoom on May 5. "It was not a hard decision in the draft room ... we were excited. We felt like we stole one there, and our expectations are that she's going to surprise people."

For Sparks fans, that kind of confidence from a head coach is exactly what you want to hear. Latson's fall in the draft is reminiscent of other talented guards who entered the league with a chip on their shoulder, ready to prove doubters wrong. At South Carolina, she was known for her quick first step, relentless drives to the basket, and ability to create her own shot—skills that translate well to the pro game.

Now wearing the purple and gold, Latson has a chance to turn that draft-night slide into a breakout rookie campaign. With Roberts' belief and a roster built to compete, the Sparks might have just landed one of the biggest steals of the 2026 draft class.