An Expansion Draft date for the 2026 season is yet to be determined with CBA negotiations practically stalling and a strike becoming a real possibility, but one thing is certain: if there is to be a WNBA season, the Los Angeles Sparks are projected to have several solid foundational pieces still on their roster. Each team throughout the league is eligible to protect five players from the expansion teams joining the league in 2026, the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire. Any player not protected by their represented team is up for grabs. There are four names on the Sparks' roster that are set in stone to remain with the team next season, but the fifth and final protected spot is not as easy to fill.
There are a maximum of 12 players on a WNBA roster, leaving the Sparks’ front office to decide between seven players to claim that fifth and final protected spot. Keep in mind, the Sparks have four players currently on rookie contracts and three key unrestricted free agents, meaning they won't be able to protect every player they would want to. They will, however, be able to maintain a very strong foundation by protecting all four of their key players and one important role player.
Azura Stevens is the one name on the list that jumps out, as she played a key role in making up for Cameron Brink’s absence due to an ACL tear and experienced a career season. That injury forced the Sparks to try several different lineups and rotations to fill the void left by Brink. Julie Allemand made a strong case last season during Brink's absence and is a player who can offer versatility, experinece, and guard play.
Despite Allemand and Stevens both having strong seasons in 2025, it would make more sense for the Sparks to elect to keep Allemand, as Brink's return would force Stevens to a bench role, while Allemand could stay in the starting lineup. Keeping Allemand, in turn, would also take pressure off veteran Kelsey Plum, who is the team’s primary perimeter scorer. With Allemand, she wouldn’t have to also carry too big of a playmaking load. As for Rae Burrell, she's a young talent with a bright future, but the Sparks are aiming for contention now, leaving her on the outside looking in on a protected spot due to lack of experience and needed growth and development—which may make her a solid fit for a brand new expansion team.
The other four players basically pick themselves
Kelsey Plum: The two-time WNBA champion, Olympic Gold Medalist, and four-time All-Star is a no-brainer for the Sparks to protect, and it will inevitably happen. Plum is the most important foundational piece for the Sparks' foreseeable future, and the front office should do everything it can to lock her in long term. She only signed a one-year deal for the 2025 season and will be an unrestricted free agent in 2026. This, however, does not limit the Sparks' ability to still protect her from being selected by one of the two new teams in the Expansion Draft. Veteran experience and leadership, both characteristics of Plum, are valuable accolades that can't be taught and are imperative to keep around if they hope to bring a championship back to Los Angeles.
Dearica Hamby: An unrestricted free agent this season, Hamby enters her third season with the Sparks, and, much like Plum, she's a critical and necessary piece for their success. The WNBA champion and 3x-All Star forward averaged 18.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game in 2025 for the Sparks and meshes well in Lynne Roberts' offensive schemes. She brings size and experience and plays her position well on a consistent basis. Hamby played an important role in the Sparks' late-season push toward a playoff spot.
Rickea Jackson: A successful lottery pick in 2024, Jackson lived up to the hype in her first season in the WNBA. She was a steal for the Sparks, who drafted the forward in the first round out of Tennessee. The former Volunteer averaged 14.7 points and 3.2 rebounds per game during her sophomore season and, much like Hamby, brings size and strong instincts in the paint. If the Sparks play their cards right, Jackson will be the future in Los Angeles.
Cameron Brink: Another lottery pick in 2024, Brink's first season in the WNBA was cut short after suffering a torn ACL just a month into her rookie year. She's certainly a promising player and helped the Sparks make a strong push to a hopeful playoff birth once she returned to competition just after the All-Star break in her second season. Her stats can't be evaluated thoroughly after coming back from a serious injury, but the Sparks will protect Brink who will be a good counterpart for Rickea Jackson in the coming years should the team be able to lock them both in on long-term deals once their rookie contracts expire. The Sparks should be optimistic about her production increasing with Brink competing in Unrivaled during the offseason, which will certainly get her ready for her first full season in the WNBA.
Once the Sparks protect each of these players it will then free up Sarah Ashlee Barker, Rae Burrell, Emma Cannon, Sania Feagin, Alissa Pili, and Julie Vanloo to be selected by the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire in the upcoming Expansion Draft. With a talented core consisting of strong young and veteran pieces the Sparks will make noise in 2026.