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2022 WNBA Draft preview: The Sparks are expediting their rebuild

2022 WNBA Draft preview: The Sparks are expediting their rebuild

The Los Angeles Sparks had their worst season in a decade last year, and they responded with an aggressive offseason that brought in four new contributors via free agency and trade: Liz Cambage, Jordin Canada, Chennedy Carter, and Katie Lou Samuelson.

The bulk of last yearโ€™s roster remains as well โ€” and the team extended training camp contracts to Teโ€™a Cooper, Lauren Cox, and Lexie Brown โ€” so the Sparks only have one current opening for training camp, but four picks in the 2022 WNBA Draft. Perhaps one of the teamโ€™s second-round selections will supplant another training camp invite, but for now, the players the Sparks draft have an uphill battle to get to preseason, let alone make the final roster.

Picks: 9, 16, 19, 27

Even though they missed the playoffs in 2021, the Sparks donโ€™t have a lottery pick this season after trading it to Dallas to select Jasmine Walker in last yearโ€™s draft. L.A. got back into this yearโ€™s draft by trading Gabby Williams to Seattle for Samuelson and the no. 9 pick.

The Sparks have the biggest logjam in their frontcourt, with Cambage, Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike, and Amanda Zahui B. all on protected contracts. Cambage was the prized addition of the teamโ€™s offseason, earning a live press conference outside of Crypto.com Arena; Nneka Ogwumike has been a perennial All-Star up until injuries derailed the first half of her season last year; and Zahui B.โ€™s international form for Fenerbahรงe suggests she is primed for a big year.

It would be hard to see a rookie center supplant any of those players this season, let alone Chiney Ogwumike or Maria Vadeeva if the Russian international chooses to return to the Sparks in the future. Walker, who only played a game and half before tearing her ACL in 2021, is also part of the teamโ€™s long-term plans. The Sparks slotted her in as a power forward last year, so the minutes at 4 and 5 are essentially spoken for.

In the backcourt is where things get more interesting. Kristi…

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