The Sparks went all-in on veteran talent to accelerate their timeline and return to title contention—which hasn’t worked out well so far. On the way, they gave up on a lot of young talent.
In 2024, they traded a 2026 first-round pick to the Storm for Kia Nurse and the fourth overall pick in that year’s draft. They used that pick to select Rickea Jackson, whom they traded to the Sky for Ariel Atkins this year. The pick they traded to get her became Awa Fam, who already looks like a future superstar at just 20.
Fam’s teammate, Dominque Malonga, also looks like a future superstar, and she is also in Seattle thanks to the Sparks. In 2025, they traded the second-overall pick for Kelsey Plum. Moreover, the Sparks left Sarah Ashlee Barker unprotected in the expansion draft and waived Sania Feagin and Ta’Niya Latson.
Cameron Brink, the second-overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, is the Sparks’ most valuable young asset, but she has been injured not just for much of the season but for most of her career. She tore her ACL just 15 games into her rookie season, played just 19 games in her second season, and is now out once again with an ankle injury.
Amidst the injury to Brink, Kelsey Plum’s absence, and all the losing, Rae Burrell has been a steady bright spot and, no pun intended, a much-needed ray of hope for the Sparks’ future.
Rae Burrell is having a breakout season
Injuries and general wing depth pushed Rae Burrell into her biggest WNBA role yet. She is averaging a career-high 27.5 minutes per game and has already started more games than in her first four seasons combined. As a result, she is averaging career highs all across the board with 12.5 points on 44.1% shooting from the field, 37% from deep, and 79.5% on free throws, 2.3 rebounds, and 2 assists.
Burrell always offered great size and athleticism on the wing, and her two Unrivaled seasons showcased her ability to get to the rim, hit tough shots, and bother opponents as a defender. Now, those things are finally translating to the WNBA as well.
Six players on the Sparks’ roster are 26 or younger: Burrell, Brink, Chance Gray, Kate Martin, Jihyun Park, and Alissa Pili. Burrell, Brink, and Gray are the only ones out of that group who average at least ten minutes per game. Burrell is the only one who plays 20 or more minutes on average. She and Brink are also the only players in that group who average more than 2.8 points per game.
With Brink out, it’s great to see that at least Burrell is developing and growing into an impactful rotational player. The Sparks will need her to contribute at a high level if they ever manage to make the playoffs with a veteran core of Kelsey Plum, Nneka Ogwumike, and Dearica Hamby, or if they lose their veteran stars after yet another disappointing season.
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