All WNBA players, like most athletes, develop at their own pace. Some hit the group running as soon as they join the WNBA, while some take a little more time to get used to being in the pro game. Some players even add a new skill to their arsenal in their late twenties, and others simply benefit from moving to a different team.
Thus, it is almost impossible to predict how most players will develop—unless they are a true generational talent—and every once in a while, teams give up too early on players. There can be various reasons for this. Sometimes, teams simply cannot afford to make developmental minutes available, and sometimes players just need a new environment to thrive.
Like every WNBA team, the Los Angeles Sparks let go of some players who ended up having great careers shortly after leaving the Sparks.
5. Allison Feaster
Allison Feaster was drafted with the fifth overall pick in 1998 by the Los Angeles Sparks. Due to an injury, she only played three games in her rookie season and then came off the bench for two more seasons in Los Angeles. Then, the Sparks traded her to the Charlotte Sting. Once there, she immediately became a full-time starter and contributed significantly to the team’s run to the finals, widely exceeding her performance in LA.
With the Sting, Feaster was a consistent double-digit scorer for four seasons, even received some consideration for the Defensive Player of the Year award, and was named an All-Star in 2004.
By now, Feaster is one of only a few women of color holding a significant position in an NBA front office as the Boston Celtics’ Vice President of Team Operations and Organizational Growth.
4. Erika de Souza
In 2002, Erika de Souza played 11 games with the Los Angeles Sparks, producing little during the team’s championship run. After that, she did not appear in the WNBA for four seasons, choosing to leave Los Angeles for a bigger role and higher salaries. She did return eventually and immediately played much better in Atlanta than she ever did in Los Angeles.
By 2009, de Souza was a full-time starter, an All-Star, and one of the top candidates for the Defensive Player of the Year award. She was a part of several playoff runs with the Dream and put together six consecutive seasons in which she averaged double-digit scoring as well as seven in which she averaged more than one block per game.
Overall, de Souza became a three-time All-Star and was named to the 2013 WNBA All-Defensive Second Team after leaving the Sparks.
3. Tamika Whitmore
Tamika Whitmore was already 27 years old when she started playing for the Los Angeles Sparks in 2004. She played fine in LA, but the Sparks still let her walk, and Whitmore immediately took her game to another level right after joining a new team.
With the Indiana Fever, Whitmore averaged 15.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.4 steals over 34 games as a starter and was named an All-Star in 2006. On top of that, Whitmore scored 41 points in a playoff game against the Detroit Shock, breaking Lisa Leslie’s single-game record of 35 points scored in a playoff game.
After that, Whitmore had two more good seasons before a down year in 2009 and playing her final WNBA game.
2. Odyssey Sims
Odyssey Sims first suited up for the Los Angeles Sparks in 2017. She put up solid numbers for two seasons but took a significant jump right after the Sparks traded her to the Minnesota Lynx. Sims became the Lynx’s starting point guard, averaging 14.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Her efforts were enough to earn her an All-Star selection and a spot on the All-WNBA Second Team in 2019.
Sims was not named an All-Star a second time in her career but still put together several impressive seasons. She is back in LA for a second stint with the Sparks, but, by now, Sims is already rather past her prime.
1. Marina Mabrey
Marina Mabrey first entered the WNBA as a second-round pick in 2019. She played relatively little in her rookie season with the Sparks and was traded to the Dallas Wings in 2020. With the Wings, Mabrey immediately emerged as a double-digit scorer and quickly took off.
By now, Mabrey is one of the most respected two-way players and 3-point shooters in the league. The Connecticut Sun even traded for her during the 2024 season to round out their playoff team. Mabrey may not have been an All-Star yet, but she has established herself as a great player who can help teams win games. Unfortunately for the Sparks, they gave up on her before she broke out.